I have worked for the NHS and in nursing homes over the years, so I have plenty of experience in care. I have also managed a guest house but I wanted to return to the care sector. Caring is what I really love.
I have been in my current job for about 18 months. I do some caring but I also do some spot-checking and interviewing people for work. It is not just about care for older people. Some of the service users are only in their 20s.
I provide personal care four days a week. It can be heavy work but most of the people I look after are agile. They have dementia mainly, so they mostly need direction and encouragement, and a bit of TLC.
I take one lady out. We normally go to somewhere like Waitrose. She will buy herself something like a bar of soap and enjoys having a look around. Then we have a drive and return home for lunch. She makes sandwiches, with a bit of supervision. When lockdown ends, I’m looking forward to having a cream tea with her in the New Forest, or by the beach in the car.
I have been a widow for 30 years, so I always need to work. But at my age getting a job is not easy. You’d think it might be different in care, with such a shortage of experienced carers. My age was a big obstacle. Some agencies were very rude when I told them my age. One care company asked if I could bend over and touch my toes. I started laughing. I said “I’m sure if we had a run around the block, I could keep up with you.” I cycle for miles and miles on my days off. I don’t have any underlying conditions and I am in good health, so I didn’t have to shield during lockdown and I have been able to work throughout.