For many years, Michelle Francis and her husband were the primary caregivers of her nana and as she shared, they “loved every minute of it.” While caregiving isn’t always a walk in the park, it is a great privilege to do so for loved ones, and as she added, one of the most precious gifts you can give to anyone is your time and attention.
Over a video call, we spoke to the lovely Michelle who shared her experience as a support worker.
Responses have been edited slightly for clarity.
The call to care
After Michelle’s nana passed away several years ago, she wanted to translate her experience and find a role that she could meaningfully contribute to. With her accumulated experience and heart for the elderly, joining the aged care industry as a support worker was a natural next step for Michelle.
Michelle Francis and her nana
Caring for others in a personal and professional capacity can be very different, yet has many overlaps. Since pivoting to professional caregiving in 2015, Michelle has amassed a wealth of experience that have helped her along the way.
For one, it’s to “always wear a smile,” Michelle noted. “We never know the whole truth of any situation and there is always a reason for everything and everyone’s behaviour, so it’s important to smile, be nice, and always be yourself.”
As a caregiver, putting yourself in your care recipient’s shoes and having an empathetic mindset can help lower their guard and build trust. By trying to see life from their point of view, it has helped Michelle build patience and compassion, a skill that has grown over time and reminds her why she chose to venture into aged care.
Neighbours helping neighbours
In her past 5 years as a personal care assistant and support worker, Michelle has loved connecting with and helping better the lives of people. “You are almost like a friend, another daughter or just a friendly neighbour for an older adult who needs some company, or would like to run errands with,” she added.
Being a home care support worker has its perks. As an independent contractor, Michelle has full control over her schedule and can take on as many or as few visits as she would like. She currently works about 4 days a week as she reserves her Tuesdays to spend time with her mum and bring her for medical appointments if needed.
“The flexibility is a big plus factor. Beyond choosing visits that work with my schedule, I am also able to choose visits that are located close to me, so it is more convenient.”
Michelle currently has several regular care recipients who live within a close proximity from her that she sees on a weekly, if not bi-weekly basis. This regularity and 1-on-1 service allows her to build a strong rapport with them over time. Majority of her visits are for companionship and assistance with activities of daily living including showering.
Recently, Michelle cared for a lady in her late 50s who suffers from anxiety and often finds it hard to leave the house. They spent about 10 consecutive days together and over this short period, Michelle excitedly shared that, “We had a successful trip out of the house! While it took some time to convince her that we would take it one step at a time, we popped out for a short lunch, a haircut and even went to the pokies!”
“She was so proud of making it out of the house, and likewise, I was incredibly happy for her,” Michelle added. While this may seem like a small success for others, it was a huge success for her care recipient and Michelle was glad to help be part of this journey.
Caring during one’s last moments
While being in this industry has been a rewarding experience, it does come with its fair share of challenges. For Michelle, a recent challenge was when one of her care recipients Mary* had passed away.
When Michelle first met Mary* several months ago, they instantly clicked as she was reminded of her own nana. “In fact, there were many parallels between my family and Mary’s family,” Michelle recalled fondly. For example, one of Mary’s daughters was also named Michelle, and her other daughter was named Sue – which was Michelle’s mother’s name.
“It was almost like it was meant to be! A lovely coincidence I might add. Mary was just like another nana to me.” Michelle’s relationship with Mary and her family went beyond that of a support worker and care recipient, but they became good friends and treated her like family.
Most of their visits were for companionship, and they spent hours chatting and getting to know each other. “She was such a lovely and sweet lady, and I enjoyed every minute with her,” Michelle said. After Mary had passed away, her daughter’s shared that Michelle was the last person Mary* had spoken to and interacted with before peacefully passing away.
At Mary’s funeral, her daughters thanked Michelle for caring for their mother in her last moments, and shared how Mary had a soft spot for Michelle. “It was a difficult moment for me, and I didn’t expect her daughters to mention me during the funeral. Caring for her was my privilege, and to do so not knowing it was her last moments made me realise it was a great but difficult privilege.”
During the funeral, the family passed around little memorial pins, and because they remembered that Michelle liked butterflies, they had prepared a butterfly pin for her. Beyond that, they recently send Michelle a Christmas gift to thank her for caring for Mary*.
These meaningful but unexpected gestures have stuck with Michelle, and encourage her to continue caring for her care recipients like family. “Being able to help individuals get better and live well, whether it is through having a cup of tea or helping them shower and get dressed for the day, and put a smile on their faces drives me to do better.”
*Name has been changed for confidentiality purposes
How a Homage support worker or nurse can help you
Michelle’s innate warmth and friendliness have allowed her to form meaningful relationships with her care recipients. Like Michelle, our Care Professionals are here to support your care needs and help you or your loved one lead healthy and independent lives.
Many of our services are covered under various government and private funding options such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Home Care Plan (HCP), and WorkSafe.
Reach out to Homage’s team of Care Advisors by filling up the form below or give us a call at 0480 093 788 to find out more today!
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