What does it take to be a caregiver?

What does it take to be a caregiver? 

More and more families are choosing to have their loved one stay at home whenever possible but when they need help, who do they turn to? I have experienced this myself. My late husband preferred to stay home. Due to this, I chose to take a leave of absence in order to care for him instead of putting him in a nursing home. Even though it was not an easy decision to make, it was the right decision. He was where he wanted to be and he had someone close to him caring for him.

After my late husband passed, I found that I missed the interaction with people on a daily basis and decided to find a part time job to help with expenses. Right at Home was the answer for me. I went for my interview and my new adventure as a Caregiver began. For me, it has been an opportunity to follow in my mother’s footsteps. After she retired, she became a Caregiver and continued to work as a Caregiver until she was in her 80’s. She loved the impact she was able to make in her clients’ lives as well as her own.

I have found that the emotional connection between a Caregiver and their client not only makes the client feel really good, but the Caregiver as well. I genuinely care for my clients. I love listening to the stories they share about their past and the way they light up when talking about these stories. I love seeing them smile knowing they are happy from the simple fact that they are at their own home. I love knowing that my company is enough to get them up in the morning.

I hope I can continue to help as a Caregiver up into my 80’s just like my mom. I know she is guiding me the whole way with a radiant smile on her face. I look forward to every day I can spend with my client. It is such a reward to watch them improve a little everyday with laughter and love along the way.

A note from the Right at Home Team ...

Marina has been caring for Ruth since the day she started with Right at Home. It has only taken these two lovely ladies four months to form a tight, emotional connection. Marina is constantly telling us that she gets more from helping her clients than they get from her. Ruth is thrilled to have built this close of a connection with Marina. Ruth says, "My Caregiver, Marina, is one of the most caring people I know. She always has a smile on her face and is willing to help in any way. We do anything from dishes to helping me shower to having girl days where we go do our hair and nails. She is such a strong support and I really admire her dedication and willingness to go above and beyond for her clients."

Read more about our other fantastic caregivers here.