DEAR ABBY: I have employed the same cleaning lady every week for nearly 20 years. She worked for my grandparents before me. "Dora" is 70 and shows no hint of retiring. In fact, she tells me from time to time she has no intention of ever stopping.
Although I admire Dora's spunk, the truth is she is becoming increasingly careless in her work. I often come home to find something broken, knocked over or spilled. I can see she has trouble managing the stairs and carrying the vacuum cleaner. I know she needs the income and I can't imagine letting her go. What can I do? -- HOUSEBROKEN IN BUFFALO
DEAR HOUSEBROKEN: Point out the broken, spilled or knocked-over items and ask Dora what happened. Then offer to schedule her for an eye exam if she can't afford one herself. She may be breaking and spilling things because she has a vision problem that is correctible.
If that doesn't resolve the problem, I have another suggestion. Have Dora come to you every other week, and hire a cleaning crew to fill in and do the "heavy lifting" in the week she's not there. That way, Dora will have her dignity, a lighter load to carry and some income. And you'll have a house that's spick-and-span, and no guilty conscience.