Certified Nursing Aides, CHHAs, professional and family caregivers entered Caregiverlist’s first-ever Summer Photo Contest for Senior Caregivers. We counted the votes were and the winners were announced this morning. The top 3 voted photos submitted of caregivers with the seniors in their care win Amazon gift cards. Runner-ups receive free t-shirts. The contest was conducted on Facebook and ran from Monday, July 8, 2013 until voting closed on August 31, 2013. You can see the results of the voting here.
First prize of a $100 Amazon gift card is awarded to Christi M., whose submission “Clary and I” received 877 votes.
Here’s a little bit about her:
I am a 29 year old caregiver in more ways than one. I am a daughter, a wife, a Mom, a Granddaughter, a transporter and a friend of the elderly. During the day my job is to transport the elderly. I am responsible for 6 people at a time. I am responsible for keeping them safe and making sure they arrive to their destination without any trouble. I make sure they trust and know me so they feel safe in my care. I have to admit some days are harder than others since you never know if the patient had their medication or if they are just not in the mood. I always put their needs first and approach everything with a smile. A smile is the best cure and is highly contagious. I transport a gentleman who loves to sing. It is the same song “Take me out to the ballgame” over and over, but it seems to make everyone’s day. When I see him sad, I start to sing and he perks right up and starts signing. I believe it reminds him of his childhood.
My day does not end there. I also care for my husband and two children, which is a 24/7 365 days a year job. There is no sick days or vacation days. There is no paychecks or breaks, but I wouldn’t give it up for all the money in the world. I also helped take care of my Grandmother, which consisted of changing sheets, cleaning bed pans, sponge baths, dressing, giving medicine, feeding, transporting, long sleepless nights, all while still working. She passed away and if I had it all to do over, I wouldn’t change a thing. I would empty a thousand bed pans as long as I knew it was helping someone. To me, being a caregiver is about passion, love, caring, and being selfless. Above all the needs of everyone I care for comes before my own. I remember everyone I have ever cared for and each and everyone of them have touched my heart in one way or another. They have helped mold me into the wonderful caregiver I am today. Caregiving can be both rewarding and challenging at the same time but I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Edward Hatfield was a close second with 848 votes for his photo submission, “Our Wedding Day.” Edward will receive a $50 Amazon gift certificate.
Caitlin Villasenor, is the third prize winner of a $25 Amazon gift card. Her untitled photo shows multi-generational caregiving and received 420 votes.
We’ll be featuring each of them in upcoming posts.
Senior caregivers provide emotional support and socialization for seniors, enabling many families to continue to support grandparents and parents with quality care in their home. Adult children often do not live in the same city as their aging parents which means caregiving often becomes much more than a job for senior caregivers.
Caregivers perform the essential job functions for their senior clients—from seniors who need 24-hour care to those in nursing facilities. Working as a professional caregiver provides employee benefits along with a fulfilling career. Caregiver Training is crucial to providing professional care. Caregiverlist offers a 10-hour online orientation training course that meets most states’ requirements and was created by members of the senior care industry’s national association.
Caregiverlist continues to show the love to caregivers with our Refer-a-Friend program. If you know someone who would make a great caregiver, refer them to Caregiverlist and be entered to win a free t-shirt or $50 gift card.
Caregiverlist congratulates all those who submitted photos of themselves with the seniors in their care.
