We’d like to thank the Ascentria In Home Care team for sharing their insights from working on the front-line caregiving at Ascentria.
This is Part 1, with Part 2 to follow soon, so watch out for that. Many thanks to:
- Christine Gutkowski, Ascentria
- Vanessa Carmody, Ascentria
- Karen Sylvester, Ascentria
- Sandra , George, Ascentria IHC
- Gayle Sargent , Ascentria
- Ana Eftim, Ascentria
- Eileen Brady, Ascentra
- Linda Blaquiere, Ascentria
- Elizabeth Sanchez Olivencia, Acentria
- Ron Sanford, Ascentria
There are patterns here and we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments and via social media should you be kind enough to share the article.
Why did you choose to work in the care profession?
I like to work with people, the diversity of the agency, and even on limited occurrences, helping in any way that I can.
Anonymous
After I retired from teaching I knew that I wanted to be helpful in some way to people who may need extra services of some sort. I had worked in the past with severely physically and mentally disabled people and had some nurse’s aide training. What I’m doing now is a perfect fit for me. I work every day and at this time I see 5 different clients. I do shopping, some personal care as well as household chores. I feel useful and I’m very fond of the clients that I see ! It’s one of those “I get more than I give“ situations. I get tired at times but it’s overall very rewarding.
Christine Gutkowski, Ascentria
I chose to work in a care profession because I grew up taking care of my disabled mother. I’m currently working for Ascentria taking care of a client in a wheelchair.
Karen Sylvester, Ascentria
I chose to work with the elderly after having worked in the field of Developmental Disabilities for many years. In college I studied psychology and sociology which led me into the field of working with adults with disabilities.
Currently I am working for a Social Service organization by the name of Ascentria in New Hampshire. My work consists of going into a person’s home and being able to help them with anything that will assist them in their ability to remain there. This may include shopping, going on Dr. appointments, cooking, cleaning, helping with physical therapy exercises, companionship and many other things that promote safety, independence, and peace of mind.
The person I am working with now is a Marine vet who has many medical issues, lives alone and does not have much in the way of family/friends who visit or help him out.
Karen Sylvester, Ascentria
I chose to work in the care profession because I really enjoy being with people and helping people as much as I can. I currently work for Ascentria, I started as a PCSP and unfortunately my client passed away.
What was surprising to me was who many clients the case managers and RCC have and trying to get all the help that is needed but so many obstacles. These people need help and most sooner than later. I was not in it for the money, thank God, because I feel this is a definite issue with obtaining staff and maintaining staff in this field.
Currently, I was transferred to the office at Ascentria and although we are a great organization with amazing management and role models, there are many frustrations trying to get the help people need in our state.
Sandra George, Ascentria
Because I love helping people, it’s my passion. I work for Ascentria Care Alliance. I prepare meals, do cleaning and lots of laundry.
Anonymous
I have a friend I met at my church who has several health problems. He decided I should be paid for all the things I do for him and signed me up! His name is David and he has diabetes, kidney failure, and a pacemaker — he is 75 years old. I have found him on the floor more than once, and we have been to the ER several times, so a lot of what I do for him relates to medical issues. I clean, shop, and take him where he needs to go.
Gayle Sargent, Ascentria
My mother lived near my sisters and one day my mom fell on the floor from her own house and went to the hospital. Her blood sugar was really high and the doctor told us if she continues to have high blood sugar she will have a heart attack.
Besides her diabetic health, my mother was diagnosed with mental problems, arthritis, glaucoma, and a chronic ruptured left knee.
So I decided to have a meeting with all my sisters. We talked about my mom’s health and I decided to leave my job to take care of my mother.
Today my mother hardly sleeps at night and spends her time talking and arguing with someone who is not present. I have to let her know that there is no one in her room to go back to sleep and that there are more people in the house who have to sleep.
This routine is every night: she goes to bed at 9:00 pm but she stays up watching TV in her room then she falls asleep around 11:00pm or 12:00pm, then she’s up at 3:00am until 5:00 am, before going back to sleep. I then have to wake her up early for her medicine.
Her personality changes a lot when she’s alone in her room but when she is around the family she’s happy.
Ana Eftim
I am a caregiver in my home. I am taking care of a great friend Jeffrey Sargent. Jeff is a great man and needed someone to take care of him or he would or he would go into a nursing home.
Jeff has Dementia, Parkerson, and prostate cancer. Some days it is tuff with doctors appointments and treatments. But at the end of the day it feels so good.
I am a caregiver who was born a caregiver. My mom was a nurse and she was a caregiver for many older lady’s and men. I used to help her.
I took care of my dad and mother until they passed, then my brother Michael as he also needed someone to take care of him when he passed.
I had a niece who was born with lung disease. I helped my sister take care of her and then at the age 14 she got a double lung transplant. She lived another 2 years before she passed away. All they wanted to do was die at home, and I helped them.
Eileen Brady, Ascentria
In 2009 my partner had to stop working due to the onset of Alzheimer. By 2015 she could not be left alone anymore, so I quit my job to become her caregiver. I did not know I could be paid for my services till around 2018.
Linda Blaquiere, Ascentria
My mother was a nurse for 35 years so she did not teach how to serve and help others and I became a nurse in Puerto Rico in 2010.
I have been working at Acentria for a year and a month and I have 2 wonderful clients and I treat them as if they were my family with a lot of love. I take care of them and help them in everything that is within my reach as their caregiver.
Elizabeth Sanchez Olivencia, Acentria
The care profession chose me. When the Covid 19 epidemic started, it was a double whammy for me. I both lost my income because of the quarantine and distance requirements, and my significant other of 30 yrs was already ill with the advancement of M.S., chronic UTI infections and got C-diff and blood clots at the rehab/nursing home after a brief hospital stay for kidney cancer.
After a year of taking care of her, because of the shortage of healthcare workers, I was offered the opportunity to care for her through her CFI insurance to get compensated for the duties I was already fulfilling.
I work for Ascentria as a PCSP. They helped me help my LO until she lost her battle this past July. They then offered to continue my employment caring for others in need. I now care for a 100 year old gentleman and his significant other. She is 85 years old. Helping their family unit keeps him safe and allows them to stay in her home instead of the alternative of going to an institutional environment.
Ron Sanford, Ascentria
As far as caregiving is going, what is the state-of-play where you are working? What are you seeing?
The turnover is high and pay rate seems to be a factor along with limitations in the care it can provide.
Anonymous
I see different people with different situations. I do know that there are many unfilled positions around and often a need for rides to medical appointments as well as shopping trips. I believe that there is a greater demand in the larger city areas like Keene, Manchester and Concord, however I am in an area of smaller towns and not sure exactly how many more people need services.
Christine Gutkowski, Ascentria
I am seeing that there is an enormous disconnect between the government and the population that requires services such as this. Though my particular agency spends much time trying to validate our worth by finding ways to increase our wages, it is unfortunately a field that seems to not to be valued by lawmakers.
Throughout the years that I have worked in this field I am always so sadly amazed that the work we do is not recognized as an important piece to “the circle of life”. The elderly/disabled population consists of people each of us know intimately; that being our parents, grandparents or other relatives within the family, not to mention friends we have.
I am constantly baffled by the lack of concern (that being in the form of funding a living wage) from governmental officials, who are certainly not immune from having a loved one become older and in need of care. Not only that but they themselves will not be immune to their own aging and all the challenges that getting older will present.
Paying such low wages for work that has and will affect everyone someday makes no sense! The quality of workers is at times commensurate with the pay i.e., low pay can and unfortunately at times directly impacts the quality of the worker. Why put your all into something that has little value to “the world at large”? When a fast-food worker makes more than a personal care worker, there is a huge disconnect.
Karen Sylvester, Ascentria
I find on a daily basis that the needs of care in our state far outweighs the number of caregivers. This is not only in our organization but in others as well.
Sandra George, Ascentria
I see, (from personal experience), and hear about potential caregivers and clients that are not educated in navigating the insurance bureaucracy to find out about Choices for Independent Living with a Caregiver as an alternative to long term rehabs and assisted-living facilities.
Ron Sanford, Ascentria
How are you feeling?
How is your work impacting you and those around you?
Are any sacrifices being made as a result of your work?
I’m ok but I’m not in a position to make changes.
Anonymous
I’m doing ok – I really feel attached to the people I see and I feel needed. I don’t feel that I’m making any big sacrifices, other than the fact that I wouldn’t mind higher pay. But I’m happy with what I’m doing.
Christine Gutkowski, Ascentria
I’m feeling good. Working is opening my eyes to what each patient needs. Every patient’s needs are different.
Karen Sylvester, Ascentria
I feel like I am part of an uphill battle. As much as I love the work that I do, it’s just not affordable! Throughout the years I have worked in this field only part time so that I can do other work in order to help my family financially. This impacts the quality of life for my family and myself. The take home pay for human service workers has never been within the range of a living wage. Needless to say, today it is much worse given the state of our economy.
Karen Sylvester, Ascentria
I personally feel like we have a lot of great individuals who truly care and want to help those in need. We do our best to take care of as many people as we possibly can but there just isn’t enough of us.
The sacrifices we face are that we try to take on more responsibility and clients and we burn ourselves out. We really need to be able to meet the demand for care, the ones needing care deserve it.
Sandra George, Ascentria
I’m feeling great and I am very comfortable and satisfied with my job and my wonderful client.
Anonymous
I like David, consider him a friend (which he was before I became his caregiver) and want to help him in any way I can because he has no one else.
Gayle Sargent, Ascentria
I am feeling good, and happy.
Eileen Brady, Ascentra
I work from home, my client is my partner. It’s a good feeling that I can be here for her! And of course, sacrifices are becoming greater as her life becomes more challenging for her as her disease worsens!
Linda Blaquiere, Ascentria
I feel good. I like to serve and help.
Elizabeth Sanchez Olivencia, Acentria
I feel good at the end of the day. Not every day is as successful as the one before. Especially for clients with signs of Alzheimer’s and Dementia it can be especially trying at times. With consistency and trust-building, the rewards outweigh the effort every time.
I sacrificed my career and most of my savings to care for my loved one to make her life as comfortable and happy as I could for the time she had left. And I wouldn’t hesitate to do it all over again.
Ron Sanford, Ascentria
What’s the best part of being a carer?
What’s the most challenging part of being a carer?
Interaction with other people. I can’t speak from experience but lack of support is a challenge.
Anonymous
Best part of being a caregiver is you meet new patients everyday. Every patient’s needs are different.
Karen Sylvester, Ascentria
The best part of being a caregiver is knowing that I am improving the quality of life for a person who would otherwise perhaps be in an institutional setting (or worse), something I don’t think anyone would prefer. Walking into work brings me great joy because the person I am helping can rest easy knowing I am there to listen, assist, develop a relationship with, and promote that person’s ability to be in their ideal surroundings which is at home. Not a very big “ask” is it, just to be home?
The most challenging part of this work is knowing that there are so many people who need help and so little resources made available from which to draw from. Finding caring individuals who would want to work in this field is exceedingly difficult. And I think it is safe to say that a major part of this is due to the poor wages that the work provides. Though the job can be incredibly difficult at times, the emotional rewards are immense! Now if we can just get the government to recognize the importance of this work, that once again potentially affects everyone, including the lawmakers, then perhaps we will be allowed to make a living wage and our loved ones will receive the quality of life they deserve.
Karen Sylvester, Ascentria
Being a small part of someone’s day, to see them excited to see you or maybe not excited but truly appreciates all you do for them when you are with them is a great feeling of accomplishment.
We need to be able to do as much as possible for those truly in need and we need to be the person they look forward to seeing and spending time with on a daily basis. You truly build relationships, trust and friendship with the individuals we care for and therefore it hurts when we see that they are not getting all the help they need.
Again, the challenge is being able to assist as many people as possible without burning out and to be able to give the quality of care a person deserves.
Sandra George, Ascentria
Seeing a smile on my clients face knowing that I am helping them and they appreciate it.
I really don’t have a challenging part where as I mainly stick to cleaning and tending to her laundry and assisting with meals. Things are going great as of now.
Anonymous
The best part is knowing I make a difference in someone’s life. The challenging part is the medical crises and decisions around those that must be adapted to.
Gayle Sargent, Ascentria
It is difficult to have to take care of a mentally ill person. Your mind gets really tired.
In terms of those around me I am able to leave all my problems at work and have a normal life with those around you
Ana Eftim
The best part of being a caregiver is the feeling of helping. The worst and most challenging is the cleaner up poop.
Eileen Brady, Ascentra
In my case, life is the best and the worst! Being on duty 24/7 can be a huge challenge and fortunately for me, she is very congenial and appreciative of everything!
Linda Blaquiere, Ascentria
It is great to be able to help others. The worst bit is when there are clients who don’t like you, treat you badly and offend you, but I think it’s part of our job to deal with all kinds of people.
Elizabeth Sanchez Olivencia, Acentria
The best part of being a caregiver is that you really make a difference and you improve your client’s quality of life either directly or indirectly.
The most challenging part of the job is preparing for the inevitable obstacles and thinking ahead for a solution to a problem when your first attempt isn’t as successful as you thought it would be.
Ron Sanford, Ascentria
How likely are you to recommend Caregiving to a friend or colleague?
I would recommend caregiving depending on what the person is interested in. They have to be willing to not make much money and to not mind routine chores that at times can be tiring. They need to be able to enjoy the people that they serve and to treat every person with dignity and respect.
Christine Gutkowski, Ascentria
Yes because the work is invariably rewarding, however the wage is very substandard so once again who can afford to do this work?
Karen Sylvester, Ascentria
Yes, but this profession is not for the weak, the individuals that choose this profession are true empaths and go above and beyond to do the right things for others.
Sandra George, Ascentria
Caregiving is a very rewarding job and where we have such a shortage, it would be nice to see more getting involved with tending to clients with their needs.There’s no better feeling on earth than helping someone else in my book.
Anonymous
I’d recommend it but not everyone is cut out to be of service to others. Sometimes it takes a lot of your time and energy.
Gayle Sargent, Ascentria
Taking care of someone who really needs full care is very gratifying.
Linda Blaquiere, Ascentria
There is a huge need for Caregivers, now more than ever, as family members either don’t have the skillset or interest to be able to care for their loved ones. I would encourage anyone with the time, the patience, and the ability to help their loved-ones or others in need. It WILL make a difference.
Ron Sanford, Ascentria
Are there any stories of people that you care for you’d want to share?
Perhaps because the system has let them down or because the system caught them and they thrived?
There are several people who are able to stay in their homes because of caregivers. In some cases a spouse has been able to continue to work because a caregiver can come to the home.
Christine Gutkowski, Ascentria
My career with the elderly began with a woman who had to leave her home due to the development of Parkinson’s disease. She was unable to care for herself entirely and had very little money to spend on care. Thankfully we were able to get involved with this particular Social Service organization which allowed her many benefits that she was unable to afford on her own.
This woman had no interested family and lived a very lonely and difficult life. Fortunately, through our involvement with Ascentria her life became much easier, having more services for her needs as well as relationships with people who truly cared about her. Her enjoyment of life skyrocketed and she was able to remain in her apartment until the very end of her life, something that she was forever praying for.
Karen Sylvester, Ascentria
My client wasn’t very old, but very sick. He never complained and was always excited to see me. As he got worse and wasn’t able to eat as much because of the stomach cancer. On numerous occasions I had to request that he be sent for nourishment, and although the RCC and Case Manager followed up it just didn’t happen before he passed away.
The wife said it was too expensive for them to purchase it on a regular basis, which is why we were trying to get it supplied to him. There should not be so many roadblocks, it just seems unfair.
Sandra George, Ascentria
If you could tell your senator and a president one thing about the state of caregiving what would you want them to know?
We need a pay rate more comparable so care can be provided more freely and empathy.
Anonymous
Invest more into it. Better pay will attract more caregivers because higher pay tends to make people feel that they are valued. It benefits everyone and a community to keep people in their homes who can still be part of the community; going to restaurants, community events like church suppers and parades, patronizing businesses in the community and living as fulfilling a life as possible.
Christine Gutkowski, Ascentria
That it is hard work there are tons of people willing to do it but they can get paid better in other places rather than home care.
Karen Sylvester, Ascentria
I would tell them that one day they most likely will require services of some kind in order to remain in their home so if they cannot think about “the greater good” then at least think about your own personal future.
Karen Sylvester, Ascentria
We are all affected by this dilemma, we all have or know someone who is directly suffering because they are sick, disabled, physically or mentally unstable or any other illness that causes them to need our assistance as human beings. We ourselves are not immune from one day having to depend on this system to care for us, is this how you would want to be cared for?
Sandra George, Ascentria
That we are human beings who deserve the recognition of taking care of the many people that we do and love. I think we deserve a more livable wage.
Anonymous
Any help they can provide would be welcome.
Gayle Sargent, Ascentria
Let them see how much we as caregivers do to take care of not only adult relatives, other elderly people, and the responsibility we have to take on.
Ana Eftim
Caregiving is vital to those of us who cannot care for ourselves. There are many elderly people out there who are not receiving any care, they deserve to be cared for!
Linda Blaquiere, Ascentria
That our work is more than that of a nurse or a house cleaner because we establish a relationship beyond care service we also give love and trust and daily dedication.
Elizabeth Sanchez Olivencia, Acentria
In my opinion, as our population’s lifespan increases, there will be more need to care for them in a safe, comfortable, and familiar setting, giving them the respect, care, and concern they deserve. Caregiving is the most understaffed, underpaid, and overlooked of all the services that I am aware of.
Ron Sanford, Ascentria
