Duet has made a huge difference for the well-being of my mother. After having lived a dynamic and independent life, my mother began to suffer from dementia and reduced capacity to look after herself. This was especially difficult for me because I was her only living child and I reside three thousand miles away. Duet stepped in and made many executive decisions about her care, well-being, and comfort. They always went the extra mile and treated my mother’s case not just with amazing sensitivity and care, but with the consideration that I imagined they would have provided members of their own family. There has never been a moment in working with them that I did not feel that not only were they functioning at the highest level professionally, but that they were also operating with a moral responsibility, thoughtfulness and kindness that has been a beacon during a challenging time. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

It is a shock when an active and capable parent suddenly cannot be left safely on their own. We were very fortunate to find Duet at this point in our lives. Everyone—from managers to caregivers—were kind, responsive, and dedicated. They listened, asked important questions, and worked quickly to find exceptional care for our mother at a time when her needs were changing rapidly. Joanna and Rutendo were outstanding caregivers. They were kind, loving, adaptable and patient. They became an essential part of our extended family during a very challenging time, and we will always be grateful to them and to Duet.

Our father had recently died, and our mother was showing a concerning cognitive decline. We needed help. But my mother, a fiercely independent, born-and-bred New Yorker, was resistant. We tried a couple of other home care options that didn’t work out. With each failed attempt, my mother was becoming more and more critical of the idea. Then our wonderful care manager suggested Duet, explaining to us that it was an agency set up for our exact needs. The team at Duet set us up with several great options and my mother immediately chose a young man who became a real saving grace for our family. Nick supported my mother’s independence with grace and good humor. Nick kept my mother engaged and vibrant and provided an anchor that she had been missing since my father’s death. He genuinely understood her, and that was a great gift to her and to us.

High praise for Duet! Duet provided caring, smart, creative, and responsible companions for my mom who at the time was living in a facility due to advanced dementia. Though physically well cared for, my mom spent many hours each day sitting by herself staring into the void. (My family and I visited frequently but could not be there during the day due to our work schedules.) The Duet companions lovingly provided her with compassionate 1:1 attention 4 hours/day. This included a combination of gentle sensory stimulation and other things like singing together, talking, and reading with her, and ensuring she received whatever she seemed to need in the moment, like a drink of water, a nap, a walk outside for a change of scenery and fresh air, or a loving touch. The companions wrote and emailed my family informative brief notes after each visit to keep us apprised of what transpired each day. The Duet administrative staff were also very kind and responsive to our family’s needs. Duet changed my mom’s life significantly for the better during the last 1.5 years of her life – and during that time my family and I felt comforted knowing that my mom was getting the loving attention she both needed and deserved. I highly recommend Duet!

Since 2017, Duet has provided my 93-year-old Aunt with male aides who are so helpful, kind and caring that she is thoroughly enjoying these last years of her life. They laugh together, go on walks, watch the news, and discuss it, listen to music, attend lectures, and see movies. In addition, they accompany her to the offices of her various doctors and comfort her when she’s feeling down about her near-blindness, frailty, and age. She prefers creative people, and the two aides who are currently with her are extraordinarily creative as well as devoted. I’m honored to know them and feel lucky—no, blessed! — that I found Duet.

My mother is 95 years old and lives alone in a Greenwich Village apartment. She’s grateful every day for the support she receives from her caregivers provided by Duet.  It took three falls to alert her long-term care insurance company of her need for in-home caregiver support who then recommended Duet and she began their service with 8 hours of support per day.  Her aversion to having strangers in her home was replaced by sincere admiration and mutually friendly relations with her caregivers who she now depends on.  Her quality of life greatly improved, and she appreciated this service as new needs became apparent.  After six months, she increased to 24-hour support.  This greatly increased her security and overall quality of life.  My mother and our family are happy and grateful for the care she receives and endorse Duet and their team to anyone who may have a need for their services.

My parents live in an independent living community.  My father is 99 and my mother is 92. They both have a moderate degree of age-related dementia with increasing cognitive dysfunction. Several years ago, our care manager suggested contacting Duet for aides / companions.  My parents needed someone to help keep their brains engaged as well as assist with things like grocery shopping and meal preparation. Duet has provided the perfect companions for them.  The companions provide every service that a traditional aide would, but they go way beyond the basics.  They prepare meals, keep an eye on medications, go grocery shopping, arrange, and go to medical appointments, accompany them to activities, etc.  Most importantly, they do their best to keep my parents engaged and mentally stimulated.  As an example, one of the companions is always sharing videos, movies, articles with them.  She encourages them to actively participate in discussions about whatever they are doing together.  She also encourages them to share stories with her about their younger days.  Her patience and kindnesses are extraordinary.  Another one of their companions has 20 years of special education teaching experience as well as her own aging parents.  There is nothing that can faze her.  She too, is extraordinarily patient with them, as well as genuinely interested in them as people.  Both women give 110% of themselves each time they are with my parents. I cannot even begin to say how critical Duet has been during the past year and half.  The community that they live in had been locked down to all visitors (including family) since the beginning of the pandemic. These companions/aides have been their only source of companionship and engagement.  They have literally been responsible for keeping them healthy and alert for the past year and a half.

Duet was part of our lives for three years as my elderly mother required more and more care. I cannot say enough about the women that came into my mother’s home and befriended her as well providing necessary services. As a daughter living in Massachusetts with a mother living alone in Manhattan, I needed to trust an agency and its personnel from afar. Duet never let me down! With various problems occurring along the way the staff provided quick and effective solutions.  I think the fact that all of this was occurring in NYC adds to my gratitude. It’s easy to think that in the big city you are going to get lost in the shuffle. This couldn’t be further from the truth with Duet. Calls were returned promptly, and the quality of caregivers was exceptional. It was a difficult journey to see my mother age and develop dementia. Her caregivers treated her with dignity and respect all along the way. I will forever appreciate that I found Duet and had the support I needed.

I’m always impressed with how Duet found smart, caring, personable companions who shared many similar likes with my wife. Duet was also able to keep up with my inconsistent scheduling needs. Their companions were prompt, intelligent, caring, and charming. 

We have been clients of Duet for several years.  They have been tremendously helpful in caring for our parents. The carers they for provide are excellent – very professional and most importantly kind, patient and empathetic.  They love what they do and that shows in their work!  Duet takes the time and energy to match their carers to their clients’ needs and personalities.    They provide added support and advice whenever we need it.  As both my brother and I live far from my parents, the type of service Duet provides is invaluable.   I cannot recommend Duet enough!