Barefoot in the Grass
When Senior1Care caregiver Laurie P. first met Lloyd, his family joked that she would never get him outside. He was struggling with depression and spent the majority of his days watching television. Laurie started with a few questions.
Who was his favorite author? What kind of music did he enjoy? After learning that Lloyd loved John Grisham, Laurie bought him a book from a thrift store. Within six months, Lloyd had finished 30 of the author’s novels. They began eating lunch together outside, and before long, he was walking barefoot in the grass.
This curiosity about people has become central to the way Laurie approaches caregiving. She loves hearing her clients’ stories and listens for the details that reveal who they are and who they’ve always been.
“I absolutely love hearing my clients’ stories and learning their history,” Laurie said.
Listening for What Matters
After another client spent time moving in and out of rehab, she drifted away from activities she once loved, including book club and volunteering. Laurie encouraged her to try returning to them, but when her client didn’t feel ready to go, Laurie said, “We’ll do book club together!” Life might look a little different now, Laurie reminded her, but that doesn’t mean she has to leave behind the things she has always enjoyed.
Sometimes the most important thing Laurie can offer is her attention. During the holidays, she learned that a client had a particular fondness for boom boom shrimp. Laurie shopped around for the shrimp and special boom boom sauce, then added a box of Toblerone chocolates to top it off. “It wasn’t about the food itself,” Laurie said, “it was a way of showing my client that she mattered to me and that our relationship is important.”
An Unexpected Path
Caregiving wasn’t a career Laurie had planned for herself. The idea first took root when one of her daughters began CNA classes in high school. One day Laurie drove past a Senior1Care sign seeking caregivers and decided to learn more.
She applied for the training program, completed the requirements, and began working as a caregiver. A year later, she moved into the office as a full time trainer, spending the next three years preparing new caregivers for their work. Then, about a year ago, Laurie returned to full-time caregiving.
Both roles gave Laurie a different perspective on caregiving, but working in clients’ homes allowed her to get to know her clients on a deeper level. With Lloyd, what began with questions about books and music, lunches outside, and small efforts to learn what he enjoyed eventually grew into a connection with his family, too.
Meaningful Connections
When Lloyd was nearing the end of his life, his family called Laurie and asked her to be there. She sat with them in shifts until three in the morning and felt like an extension of the family. She was grateful to have been part of Lloyd’s life, even for a short time.
“You make connections with people, even if it’s just for a short season,” Laurie said. “It can be incredibly meaningful.”
Laurie’s years in the office also gave her a close-up view of the family that founded and continues to lead Senior1Care. Their own experience caring for an aging loved one helped inspire the company, and Laurie saw firsthand how personally they still approach the work. “I love their heart for seniors,” she said. “This business is their dream, and I get to be part of it.”
Laurie carries that same personal approach into the relationships she builds with her clients. For her, it comes back to knowing what matters to someone and finding ways to keep those pieces of their life present, even as other things change.
