April 2023 - Claudia
Claudia Successfully Puts Her Own Client Care Plans in Action
For a dementia client, Home Instead® CAREGiver of the Month Claudia devises a care plan three times a week that includes a different activity paired with a familiar routine. “Before I arrive, I think of a plan to incorporate with my client. One day it will be baking a cake or muffins. On another day, I introduced the craft of painting, for example, on eggs for Easter. On each of the days, we go for a walk,” Claudia explained.
“This lovely lady has moments of complete frustration because of what she is going through. I am happy to be there for her and support her and her husband during the difficult times. When I decided to think of ideas to lessen her frustration and agitation, I asked her husband what she used to like to do. He said it was baking and gardening, and going for walks,” Claudia said.
Armed with that knowledge, Claudia's plans are winners. Claudia also provides companionship and empathy, care elements that are far more important than most people would guess.
“Many times, she just needs to talk about how she is feeling. This aging process is not only difficult for my client, but it also is a very difficult time for her husband, the primary caregiver. Therefore, while I am there, he may also need to get things off his chest. Plus, it is a time for him to go out and run errands or just simply see his family and take a break.”
There is an irony in Claudia's compassionate assistance for this client, a “pay-it-forward” sort of karma for the client. “One interesting story my client shared was that she worked at the Cummer Lodge Nursing Home as a hairdresser. She was happy to make the residents feel beautiful. She not only would do their hair, but she would bring makeup to do up their faces. The residents felt so important and valued. My client said that was her best job in terms gratification and fulfillment,” Claudia said.
That's how Claudia feels about her job. She joined Home Instead of Newmarket about 10 weeks ago and has enjoyed a professional caregiving career for 10 years. To build a strong foundation of senior-care expertise, Claudia attended George Brown College two nights a week. “It took about two years to finish and become a Personal Support Worker (PSW). George Brown is a very good college for the various subjects that go into being a great PSW,” Claudia said.
Claudia first landed a job with We Care before moving to Preferred Home Health Care. Then family caregiving entered Claudia's life. “I had to take a break for about two years after my mother suffered a stroke. She could no longer live alone. Therefore, thank God for my PSW skills. I cared for her for almost two years. As it became abundantly harder, she then went to a nursing home,” Claudia recalled.
“I took a break for about a year from professional caregiving. I was involved more with my grandson, but now that he is in full-time school, I am needed less. I thought, ‘Now is the time to get back into what I love doing.' ”
Claudia thought about applying with Home Instead because she has a friend who worked for the company in Toronto's High Park area. “My friend was very happy with Home Instead's organized approach and how they made their CAREGivers feel so valued. Therefore, I decided to apply, and I'm happy I did. What I love most is how organized Home Instead is and how well everyone works together from management on down. I also noticed how the administrative and management staff makes us feel very valued,” she said.
Claudia added: “For example, for a CAREGiver's service anniversary, Home Instead puts the honoree's picture in its newsletter, hosts a great lunch at the staff meeting and delivers flowers to the CAREGiver. Above all, Home Instead strongly encourages our attendance at meetings and respectfully makes sure we remain up to par on our training. That makes me feel as if I am definitely part of a team. With all this, I am quite thankful that Home Instead has hired me to do what I love. Overall, I think caregiving is a great job. Companies such Home Instead help families feel as if they are not alone. That is a blessing.”