Shawna S.

About Shawna

I started as a caregiver after I left teaching with CPS. Caregiving has become a passion for me. I am honored to be able to help others. I take pride in having high standards, especially when caring for others. I know how important it is to keep clients in their own home. I love that I can help people, especially those in the end stages of life. I am especially proud to have cared for 2 family members in their last months/years and have learned a lot. I continue to be willing/interested in learning whatever I can. I am proud of everything I've learned and taking that knowledge with me to each of my clients. I treat every client with the same care, love, respect, dignity and privacy that I would want to be treated. Each client is unique and I make sure to tailor my care to THEIR needs/wants. I truly enjoy being a caregiver and think of it as more than just a job; it's a dedicated lifestyle. I choose NOT to get my CNA license because it would tie my hands. I would not be able to do wound care, catheter changes, g-tube feedings and changes, medication dosage, administration, and set ups, insulin shots, or most of what I have done for my hospice clients. I have been trained by various Drs, nurses, hospice staff, CNAs, wound care specialists, and staff at The Rehab Institute of Chicago. I choose to learn and take everything I've learned to better my client's life, for as long as I can.

Caregiving Services & Expertise

Experience & Education

Private Home Care Aide

Jun 2009 - Oct 2020

Self Employed

Various clients. Catheters, colostomy bags, G-tube feeding, wound care, hoyer lifts, pacemaker, patient advocacy, medication reminders & management, liason to Dr's, nurses, hospital staff, in-home nurses and family members. TBI, congestive heart failure, dibetes care & management (including insulin dependant and pump), quadriplegia, bed bound, post surgery care, cancer patients, hospice, live-in, hourly, toileting, bathing, meals, housework, errands, exercise, ADL's, and companionship. Implemented daily journals for each client. Kept client safe at home, happy, and engaged in daily life.

Jun 2009 - Oct 2020

Home Care Aide

Nov 2012 - May 2015

Addus Healthcare Inc

Client had dementia; companionship, assist with ADL's, meals, housework & provided transportation. Client declined over the 2.5 years I lived with her, becoming full assist. Gait belt transfers, walker & wheelchair. Implemented a soft diet which paid close attention to being high protein & appealing. Designed household signs to help my client feel grounded. Implemented household security measures to keep my client safe. Medication reminders, toileting schedule & wound care if needed. Aided with PT & OT. Implemented a daily journal of behavior changes, meds, input/output, sleep patterns, etc. Whenever possible/safe I would escort her out of the house for walks, drives or to her Senior meetings so she could continue to get socialization. Modified activities to keep up with her decline. Liason to her Dr, family, in-home nursing, PT, OT, Palliative Care and eventually hospice. My main goal was making sure this client stayed in her home and was treated with respect and a high level of care.

Nov 2012 - May 2015

St. Xavier University

Jun 2000 - Jun 2002

Jun 2000 - Jun 2002

Moraine Valley Community College

Sep 1996 - May 2000

Sep 1996 - May 2000

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