What I value most in my life is my relationships with my Creator, my family and my friends, as well as the gifts and talents that were entrusted to me in caring for others. My goal is to implement all of these in such a way to support myself and other caregivers while bringing hope, love, dignity, and inspiration to those I meet through my caregiving, writing, and photography.
From a young age, I have been an observer. As an adult, I find joy in communicating through my writing and photography. My passion is in helping to meet the needs of others in whatever ways possible while also learning to be aware of my own needs and limitations so I can deliver the best care possible.
At the age of 21, I became a Certified Nursing Assistant. I started out working in a small town nursing home and soon moved on to Home Health Care. I spent three years as a CNA/HHA before starting my own family. When my first daughter was born, I resigned and began my journey of raising four daughters and one son.
Over the years, although I didn’t keep my CNA certification current, I continued providing care for my loved ones as they needed it. I assisted in the care of several family members and friends, most of which, I was present with in their final days. When I was helping to care for them, I knew that my heart for caregiving had not gone away just because I wasn’t making it my occupation at the time. I felt like I was in my element and was so pleased to realize that being a caregiver wasn’t just a job title to me – it was who I was at my core.
In 2013, at 43 years of age, I re-entered the work force as a full-time caregiver/personal assistant and have greatly appreciated my past training and practical experience as I saw one situation after another trigger memories of what I had already been trained to do in my profession as well as my personal life over the years.
My integrity is very important to me. I have a quiet, but engaging personality that brings a calmness to those I care for. I love noticing the differences in personalities from one client to the next. I do my best to match my client’s energy and comply to their preferences as much as their care needs allow.
I continue to learn and grow in my caregiving skills by getting to know other caregivers, asking for feedback and advice from other health care providers, and doing my own research in order to stay up to date on changes and solutions that help my clients be at their best and have a positive experience as I provide care for them.
Most of all, I learn from those I have cared for and continue to care for. No two clients have the same needs, the same personalities, or the same family dynamics and experiences. With each new client, I receive new perspectives and new phases of training, for which I am so grateful! One thing they all have in common is that they want to feel genuinely cared for and not looked at as a burden or obligation – or even just a job. They want to be seen. They want to be heard. They want to be loved for who they are.
Thank you for considering me to be that person to genuinely care for your loved one or for you yourself. I look forward to our paths crossing as we all walk through our own unique seasons in this life!