Clara P.

I am Virginia Board Certified Nursing Assistant with over five years of home health and assisted living care. After raising four children I returned to school and became certified as a Home Health Aid, Nursing Assistant as well as Phlebotomy Tech. I believe that everyone has the right to quality care, and an advocate to ensure they are treated with dignity and respect. Raising four children has taught me that one must always use and implement active listening skills as well as expect the unexpected. My passion for health care comes from years of experience as a mother, wife and caregiver to family and friends.

I was too young to remember the story but my aunt says when I was 4 years old, that I comforted and reassured her when she was crying over a breakup with her boyfriend. I believe this was the beginning of my journey to care for others. I majored in Social Work and have had a wonderful 27 year career of working with children, adolescents and the aging. I have worked at UVA hospital where I gained insight into the importance of maintaining good health and how devastating a disease or accident is on one's health and life. I have worked for department of social services and assisted the aging with receiving the services needed to remain in their home or to move into a facility. At this time, I am doing "hands on" care in people's home to assist them with various activities of daily living. My mother was bedridden for many years and I was one of her primary caregivers. I know the burden on family when caring for a loved one and the importance of support. My grandfather lived to be 96 and I was there for him to assist with shopping, meal prep, housekeeping, medication reminders and transportation. I cherish the times that I spent with my mother and grandfather caring for them. I also cherish the support I received from others.