Working in the community we go through a lot with our clients. We become part of their day-to-day life and we provide a safe space for them to stay secure in their own homes. It’s one of the joys of our job. We are there for the good times and provide comfort in the bad. I’ve been working for MCare for 15 months now, and Carlene for 6 Years working in Donaghadee, Through our own experiences, we knew we could bring great care to the people we visit daily.
Natasha’s Story
“I knew I could make the same impact in other people’s lives”
Before the start of my own MCare journey, Mcare looked after my grandmother in her advancing stages of Alzheimer’s. We could not have asked for a better team, giving my nanny the opportunity to live out the rest of her life safe in her home. The carers came in daily, always full of positivity and wearing a big smile, it brought her so much joy. In seeing this, I knew I could make the same impact in other people’s lives.
“ ’Deborah, get Natasha up for an interview she’d be perfect’. I interviewed the next day! That was the start of it all! “
I had previously been in the hospitality sector in management for 12 years, working in a fast-paced environment with rigorous workloads. When the time for change came, I was walking home early on a Monday afternoon and bumped into Carlene, when I told her I was changing jobs she immediately called one of the managers. “Deborah, get Natasha up for an interview she’d be perfect” – I interviewed the next day! That was the start of it all!
“ Each night we would have a little chat and catch up about their days, having a little laugh in the process! “
I went out with Carlene on the same Friday to shadow the run and meet the clients! I chatted away, taking everything in like a sponge! The next night I was out on my own! Luckily our little clients in Donaghadee have hearts of gold, they made sure I remembered everything and kept me right on each call. It was honestly a real delight. As weeks passed I came to know how each person liked their tea, what their favourite food was, when they needed clothes left out for a day out… I even knew what their favourite pjs were to wear to bed! It’s the little things that make a big difference. Each night we would have a little chat and catch up about their day, having a little laugh in the process!
Carlene’s Story
“They’re like a second family on this run, no matter what they need we do our best to make sure our clients are happy and content.”
I’ve been with MCare 6 years now and have been working in Donaghadee consistently through these years. There are key values every great care giver needs to possess; patience, kindness, compassion and a big heart. When I first started with MCare I immediately asked Natasha to come and work alongside me when I knew she was looking for a new career. I told her, “They’re like a second family on this run, no matter what they need we do our best to make sure our clients are happy and content.” From here Natasha and I have worked together as a team to ensure each and every one of our clients are made to feel happy, safe, and appreciated.
Working as a Team
“Ensuring our clients are cared for to the best of our ability, as we would our own family.”
With Christmas coming up, we ensure each client has a gift to open on Christmas Day and we may even coordinate our Christmas attire to ensure everyone gets a laugh with a few songs thrown in along the way! Although it may be a single run, we are very much a team, we always work together and communicate daily, ensuring our clients are cared for to the best of our ability, as we would our own family.
“We remember birthdays, anniversaries and important appointments, we provide that little bit of encouragement needed for them to stay independent. “
We treat each client on our runs like an extended member of our family, it wouldn’t be unfamiliar to walk in and say, “don’t worry nanny it’s only me.” Together we have been through great times, and we have also been through difficult times with our clients, but no matter what, we are there for them and that’s what we’re all about. We work as a family, we remember birthdays, anniversaries and important appointments. We provide that little bit of encouragement needed for them to stay independent.
“it’s no burden to work over Christmas it’s a little bit of a privilege”
Christmas is a magical time of year for most with dinners, and special memories with our families. In care it’s the same, it’s no burden to work over Christmas. It’s a little bit of a privilege as we get the opportunity to bring a little bit of that Christmas magic into our client’s homes. So, when we get ready for our shifts, we pull a bright Christmas jumper on, a festive hat and load the Christmas tunes in the car!
“We go the extra mile, we make sure they have a little something to open, a hot dinner and most importantly they are met with a warm smile”
Being a single run, most of our clients are independent but not all have their family with them. In these calls we go the extra mile, we make sure they have a little something to open, a hot dinner and most importantly they are met with a warm smile. It’s the type of shift where you can really make a difference in someone’s day. It brings us back to the point of family, we extend the joy from our own homes into our clients, and we take the same home.
“Christmas is a time for family, and we take great care in looking after yours.”
Each door we open and house we enter, each client is so happy to see us coming and that is a win for us. To know we have made a positive impact to their lives makes each day worthwhile especially during the festive season.
In closing, most of all we are thankful, thankful for our team, our colleagues & the management at MCare. Although here we have spoken about our little Donaghadee family, MCare extends to a full working family further afield. We go out day in day out and make sure everyone is made to feel joy in their day. Christmas is a time for family, and we take great care in looking after yours. Merry Christmas 🙂
Love Natasha & Carlene
