Darlene C.

I am a healthy, active, strong 47 year old woman. I have worked in an assisged living facility, a hospital, and a rehab facility. I have also done a lot of private duty. My longest assignment was caring for a quadriplegic man. I have raised three daughters, so I understand children as well.

I've been a Certified Life & Wellness coach since 1996. After moving to Maine, I opened my private practice in Yarmouth. And started volunteering at ME Handicapped Skiing (now ME Adaptive Sports & Recreation), & with disabled veterans. For reasons beyond my personal control, I had to close my private practice. So I decided to use my skills serving others in a different capacity, this time focusing on the elderly population in Maine as well as Hospice service. I started as a caregiver with 3 different agencies in the Portland area. After 2 yrs, I 'down-sized' to two agencies in order to get certified as a CRMA. Quite often I am asked to start the service with a new client. Several times family members of a 24X7 client requested for me to be the primary caregiver and to coordinate the day to day client needs. In fact, it was commented that "when Maria is out, things really don't go well. As soon as she's back, everything flows so smoothly." My biggest personal achievement was to be selected "VNA's caregiver of the Year 2016". Ive becobecextended famiky to my elderly clients and hospice patients, as they have become to me. I'm honored & feel priviledged to serve my clients/patients at end of life as well as providing respite for family members and guiding them throughout the weeks/days before & after losing a loved one. My life's journey has taken me all over the world. I speak numerous languages, have lived on several continents, learned skiing at 47, ballroom dance competitor at 49, certified diver at 52., and now plan to get my private pilot's license by my 70th Birthday. Having supported my husband and only son during their cancer journeys, I learned that we cannot take anything for granted in life. We must find our own way of living life to the fullest each and every moment. I'm grateful for all the people who have touched my life. Each and every one has been a gift to me as I have been a gift to them. I hope to touch many more lives.