Erlinda C.

I have decided to become a caregiver after my mother passed away. I took care of her while she was sick. It was sad to see her health decline little by little to eventually become totally dependent on me; I felt her sadness, her frustration, and sometimes even her anger. It was difficult for her to accept her deteriorating physical condition and her helplessness; she had to swallow her pride to ask for help and to accept help. I took it all in with deep sadness...... After my mother's passing, I feel a much stronger sense of compassion for the sick and the elderly; I want to help them make their daily struggle a little easier and at the same time, help them maintain a sense of dignity that we all value dearly.

I would say my expertise is all of the years combined I have caregiving, whether it be at an assisted living facility or at in-home care I put a passion into everything I do. I always go the extra mile customers because at the end of the day they are people too its not just a job. Time and time again I see caregivers doing the bare minimum when I go out of my way to make the elderly as comfortable and happy as possible. I actually care, thats what sets me apart.What attracted me to being a caregiver is having an elderly father, I mean he was really advanced in age and I always thought, who would care for him? If Im not there would people meet his needs? And that got me thinking of all the elderly people on this planet and complaints lodged against people caring for them. I believe I can make a difference thats why I chose this professionThe smiles I create is what I enjoy most. The memories brought back by song or food they start talking about the good old days I enjoy the interaction, hearing about their past lives they have decades upon decades of stories.Personal achievement that is actually ongoing is finishing my studies despite being a full time mom. I put my heart and soul into being a mom but when they sleep at 8pm is when I start to learn, English is my second language and since coming to this country the learning has never stopped. I am currently taking sociology and hoping to complete all college general ed classes before deciding on a major.