Shirley H.

I worked with the Visiting Angels Caregiver & Home health group out of Knoxville, Tn for about 2 years as a caregiver. I also helped to care for my mother, father, a sister, a brother, an aunt, an uncle, my husband, and my son. I am retired, but I still enjoy working part time as a caregiver. I can help care for your loved ones, when you need to be engaged elsewhere. Or when you just need an occasional break.... And we all need that occasional break sometimes.

My current job does not say much about who I am as a person or a caregiver. Before starting in factory work I worked in a nursing home for 4 years. After the nursing home I worked in assisted living for a year. I gave my heart to those jobs. I loved ever minute of being with the elderly. I started by waking them up and taking them to the toilet. Then I would help them get dressed or dress the ones who were unable. I would then assist with normal morning hygiene care. I would take them to dine with others in the dinning hall and then I would feed the ones who could not go. I would do daily excersizes with the residents and give baths when it came time. After breakfast some would take naps, watch tv or do other things. After my rounds of helping to use the bathroom I would visit with some that I didn't get to spend so much time with because of our morning rush to eat. So many of those people whom I took care of couldn't remember some of their own family, but they knew when they seen me coming everyday and they were so happy at times. At the end of the day helping others comes naturally. My gratitude I get from being a caregiver is just making someone smile. If I can make them smile then I must be doing something well.