As I drove to the client’s house, I wondered if it would get better, this apprehension going to a new client. I contained my feelings of apprehension. Just go with it, my mind told me. Do not think, it is thinking that often makes matters complicated. I followed the directions, walked down the path, knocked and entered into what I knew to be the client’s bedroom. I moved inside and stopped, mystified. Where is the client? On the bed was a bundle of blankets but no client. Could she be in the other rooms, I wondered, when it came to me, since she is a quadriplegic, she could only be in bed. I turned toward the bed and started in fright, peering at me from the bundle of blankets was a dark face. I did not see her due to the dark. Later, I laughed at the idea, where else would I expect the client to be but in bed since she is a quadraplegic.

I greeted her, my heart warming instantly toward her. I took to her and it felt very good. Alas, that feeling left soon after; the Hoyer lift was hard to figure out and the client not good at making herself understood. I finally got it working, after multiple sighing, groaning and crying sounds from her. However, the hardest test was not the Hoyer lift. It was moving her into her wheelchair. I did it easily but it was not to the client’s satisfaction. No, no, this was not right, that was no right and nothing was wrong. How could I make right something that was not wrong? Later, it occurred to me the client was testing me, to see if I would come back. At the end of the shift, I did feel completely drained and traumatized. I learned I was not the first. The client was said to be so difficult; she made even the most seasoned of caregivers feel inadequate.

That evening, a caregiver who had worked with her came to show me the ropes. What helped immensely was watching the interaction between the caregiver and the client. The caregiver had been attending to the client and knew her well. I watched as they interact and knew I would not have any further difficulty with the client.

The following day, I arrived, and moved as I knew I should, synchronizing my every move with hers as I transfer her with the aid of Hoyer lift from bed to the commode and from the commode to the wheelchair. Everything had to be done according to her pace; not a move a minute earlier than when she was ready for it. It required patience and a lot of waiting. I had that in abundance.

And then as I knew I would, I connected with the client. She was no ordinary woman. Rendered a quadriplegic in an accident, she did not let that stop her from living. Seated in her electric wheelchair, she went everywhere around the house and city. One forgets she is a quadriplegic, she was just someone in a wheelchair. She was also not the mean difficult client made out to be. She was charming, with a sensitive kind heart. Her loud voice, vibrant spirit and loud personality easily made her look intimidating and difficult. And difficult she is not. She apologized profusely for giving me a hard time the first day and when things were not done to her satisfaction, told me about it and accepted it, telling me not to worry about it.

Therein, good caregivers made a difference, ; quality professional caregivers made a difference. The caregiver who showed me the ropes was very good and loved the client. It was obvious from the way she related to her. By watching her closely, I saw the client in her true light. Needless to say, the client and I became good friends though I made sure I did not forget my place as direct caregiver. There is an invisible line we, professional direct caregivers are not to cross. Familiarity is one of it; we treat clients always with the outmost respect due them. I am also blessed to be working for a company who carefully screened caregivers they hire. In my one year’s work with in home healthcare, I have encountered mostly good caregivers who are conscientious and care about their clients.

It is the reason why I became a caregiver. It does take an especial calling to be a caregiver. For me, the requisite, more than anything else is love of the elderly. When the elderly became disable, incontinent, when they lose their minds, or start to have odors due to being incontinent, he or she might not be appealing or attractive to most but a caregiver with calling to this profession would feel only love and care for the clients.

Misconception about professional direct caregivers could come from certain category of private duty care. I was reading guidelines on hiring direct caregivers and one article in particular struck me. The article started out with an ad, on a private citizen who is very good and caring and would provide quality care for the elderly for nine dollars an hour. The article said it is much less than paying an agency for a caregiver but, the article cautioned, do not look at it. When something is too good to be true, it usually is. These are the ones who might enter your house, abuse you or steal from you. It is worth paying more to hire professional caregivers. I did not see that aspect until I read that article.
Looking down, I saw the checkbook of the client I was working for. He had gone to bed and left his checkbook right on the table; such was his trust of us. His trust was not misplaced, none of us would take or steal anything from him because we were carefully screened before being hired and we are good at our work, professional direct caregivers.

Hence the efforts here to get us, professional direct caregivers, fair wages, overtime pay and benefits. To retain us, to attract good direct caregivers, the pay has to be able to support us. There is veracity to the words, “We pay for what we get.”