Long before joining Senior1Care, Rita’s heart for seniors was already evident. While living in South Africa, she volunteered at an “old age home,” as it is called there, helping care for older adults and discovering a deep sense of purpose in serving them. When she moved to the United States nine years ago, that passion never faded. “I just wanted to do something again with seniors,” Rita shared. “They have a special place in my heart.”
That desire led her to Senior1Care, where she began working in January 2018 after seeing an ad. By the end of her first year, she’d already been named Employee of the Year, an honor that reflected the compassion, dedication, and excellence she brings to her work every day. Now, more than eight years later, Rita continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of clients and families alike.
A Caregiver with Patience and Purpose
Over the years, Rita has worked closely with many clients living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Through those experiences, she has learned that caregiving requires not only skill, but patience, empathy, and emotional support: “You need to have lots of patience. You have to be passionate,” she said. “It gives me a wonderful feeling if I can help these people and be there for them.”
Rita understands that every client and every family is different. When she begins caring for someone new, one of her first priorities is learning what matters most to them. “I always make sure first what the family is expecting from me,” she explained. “Then, with time, I learn what the patient’s needs are.” That thoughtful approach helps her build trust and provide care that feels personal, compassionate, and tailored to each individual.
For Rita, caregiving is also about far more than completing tasks. It’s about helping people continue enjoying the things that make them who they are: “You have to be a little bit of everything,” she said with a smile while recalling a client who loved gardening. “Sometimes you have to be a gardener. This client was happy when we did gardening together.” Moments like these remind Rita that caregiving is about honoring a person’s life, interests, and identity. “It’s not like a day-to-day job,” she said. “You have to be devoted, and you have to show that you love your work.”
A Heart that Keeps Giving
At 78 years old, Rita continues to serve part time with the same joy and commitment that first led her into caregiving. For her, the work has always been deeply personal. “When you can see that you can make other people happy, that gives me peace in my heart,” she said. “I feel happy as well.”That sense of purpose carries through not only in how she cares for her clients, but in how she supports their families as well. Rita understands the emotional challenges families often face, especially when a loved one is living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. “It’s difficult for the family to adapt,” she said. “They remember the person as they were before, and when the mind changes, that can be very hard.”
Because of this, Rita sees caregiving as supporting both the client and the family. Her calm presence and compassionate approach help bring reassurance during seasons that can otherwise feel overwhelming. “Often they also need a little bit of your help morally,” she said. That same sense of care is what has kept Rita with Senior1Care for so many years. “I’m very happy with Senior1Care,” she said. “They treat us like a kind of family.” And in turn, she carries that feeling into every home she enters. “Because Senior1Care treats us like a family, we give that over to our clients and their families too.
