CAREGiver Cassie Parle talks about becoming a Home Instead CAREGiver, helping seniors to remain at home for longer, and why there’s no such thing as a typical day at Home Instead Senior Care in Wexford.

1. Why did you decide to become a CAREGiver?

Since a very young age I have always been interested in spending time with older people. I love to help and make people smile. I completed my nursing studies in 2011 and it was at that point I realised that caring for people, especially the elderly, was my calling.

2. What do you think is the most important part of being a good CAREGiver?

To me, I think it’s being able to put yourself in the older person’s shoes and understand that they were also my age once and had the whole world at their feet. I think you need the gift of the gab to resonate with people and make them feel comfortable with you and get to know you better. Home care is a personal experience and it can be incredibly fruitful if the relationship is more caring and personal.

3. How did you find your training with Home InsteadSenior Care?

I started training on my first day with the company and was sent on patient moving and handling straight away. This was followed by a dementia course, as well as job-shadowing other CAREGivers so I could see the training in practice. I also completed my FETAC level 5 practical home care skills module. You learn so much about ageing and conditions that may arise as we grow older.

4. How important do you think it is for older people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible? Why?

I have experience of working in a nursing home environment and in the community.  While nursing homes provide great comfort for family members in knowing their older loved one is safe, I think most people want to be cared for at home.  While it may appear that a person in a nursing home is receiving around-the clock care, in reality this only works out to three hours of one-on-one care a day.

With home care, the individual receives constant attention. At the end of the day, home is where we want to be. It’s where our memories are and every room in our homes has special significance and every piece of furniture tells a story. Even the photos of our loved ones around us remind us that we are loved. There really is no place like home.

5. What sort of things do you help your client with? What is a typical day for you?

There is no such thing as a typical day of work at Home Instead Senior Care. Every day there is a new need. Someone may require palliative care, or is living with a disability or a dementia. I suppose the most common assistance I provide is when it comes to personal care, such as help with showering and bathing as well as safely hoisting and lifting older people in a safe manner.

6. What you do enjoy most about your job?

Meeting different people. Every day can bring on a new challenge and you are constantly learning.

7. What do you find difficult about your role? If needed, where do you go for support?

I can get emotionally attached to a person I am caring for, so if something goes wrong I’m very much affected. In saying that, it makes me feel good knowing that I have made a difference in someone’s life and brought them comfort during a difficult time. Sometimes that is easier said then done, and when your client passes away or no longer requires your care it can be very emotional, but knowing you have made a difference is a source of comfort. Home Instead CAREGivers have access to a 24-hour support line which can be a great help if you are ever experiencing difficulty with a client or just need someone to talk to who understands what it’s like to be a CAREGiver.

8. Would you recommend your job to someone thinking about becoming a caregiver? Why?

Yes, I would recommend becoming a CAREGiver. However, it’s not a job for everyone. I’m a believer in different strokes for different folks and would only advise someone to be a CAREGiver if they were 100 per cent committed to the role and did not have any reservations.

If you are interetsed in becoming a Professional CAREGiver contact your local Home Instead office or apply online today.