Kelly R.

I am a naturally caring person, who was raised by my grandparents, so I love and understand the elderly. I love hearing the stories of the past. I love getting to know the families and people involved in their lives. People are important and every person has value and a story to tell! I helped to take care of my grandmother as she was aging and I look back on that time w fond memories. Helping others stay in their home. Making someones life just a little bit easier can have great rewards. I took religion is college, of which I have 3 yrs. I have raised two children, and have been involved in my church over the years. I am now helping to raise two of my grandchildren which I adore! I am faithful and loyal, kind and gentle to others. I am honest and trustworthy.I love gardening, my grandchildren, and nature and all animals, especially cats and horses. In my younger years I was a CNA for about 10 years. Then helped my husband in the restaurant business for quite a few years, then went into janitorial at Hood River High Sch for awhile. I now have an additional 7 yrs (?) in caring for others. I love people! Now that I am a little older, I am enjoying taking care of the elderly and have a good understanding for what they need. I have been doing so for a number (10?) of years. I am a pretty easy going person to wk with.

I come from a family of individuals who have dedicated their life to the bettering of less fortunate individuals. A mother who has worked with mentally handicapped children for over 20 years, an aunt and uncle who currently care for and assist mentally handicapped adults, and a cousin who also works with elderly persons to better their standards of living and independence. This instilled in me a sense of compassion for those who cannot care for themselves, and motivated me to join them in this mission. My favorite part about being a caregiver, has been those times when I was able to help share an experience with someone who otherwise may have never been able to enjoy it again in their lifetime. I also enjoy gaining insight from the wisdom that my clients have obtained over the course of decades before me. I especially am drawn to persons who have served in the armed forces, and lived through some of the roughest times in world history. They are the true hero's in this life, and often don't get the attention they deserve. While I recognize that certain tasks involve some level of discomfort for many individuals, such as bathing and even simply inviting a stranger into ones home, I have become accustomed to these struggles, and have learned how to minimize that apprehension, while still maintaining the clients decency and feeling of privacy. My goal is to provide the support needed to give back whatever the client feels they have lost, and give peace of mind to family, knowing that their loved ones are safe even when they cannot be there for them.