Hilda was 79 years old with a long career as an au pair and a love of traveling and nature. She was divorced and had not been in touch with her own children for many years. Her long-time friends were her only support, and she was declining. When we met Hilda, she was living alone with the help of part-time caregivers.

She needed to sell her home due to financial limitations and move to an assisted living community, but was unlikely to be accepted based on the following:

• Negative behaviors such as yelling, aggression and agitation displayed towards neighbors and friends
• Exit-seeking behaviors resulting in her wandering
• Not eating regularly, with little attention paid to nutrition
• Napping for long periods of time in the middle of the day, with unknown nighttime sleep routine