For some customers, we are the only person they see in days: Krisztina
"When you go home, there is satisfaction because you do a lot of good things, just by being there. For some of our customers, we are the only people they see or talk to," she says.
08/12/2022
"When you go home, there is satisfaction because you do a lot of good things, just by being there. For some of our customers, we are the only people they see or talk to," she says.
Kris never imagined that a change in her career would lead to such a fulfilling role in the home care sector, where she makes a difference in other people's lives. She worked in catering at Bournemouth Airport for 12 years but was made redundant two weeks after the Airport closed its doors, when COVID-19 hit.
Looking for a Covid-proof job that would work around school hours, she sought advice from a Hungarian community on Facebook which she has been part of since she moved from Hungary 14 years ago. A lady suggested that she considered working at Bluebird Care, and commented: “I have been working at the London office and I love my job”.
Knowing that she has a caring nature and enjoys talking to people, Kris decided to apply for a job at Bluebird Care Bournemouth and Poole. After a thorough job interview, she was offered the role of Care Assistant and started within days.
"When you go home, there is satisfaction because you do a lot of good things for a lot of people and make their day easier, better, just by being there. For some of our customers, we are the only people they see or talk to. Some do not have family or friends," she says.
One of the memories that makes her nostalgic is of a lady she looked after until her last days, who lived alone in a big house and slept in the living room in a hospital bed.
“When I met her, she was still able to get out of bed, get dressed and walk to her armchair. As time went on, she deteriorated. She could not hear or see very well, but she knew there were kind carers who visited her a couple of times a day to help her with her meals and give her company", she remembers.
Over the weeks, Kris became her regular carer and an integral part of her days. “When it was time for me to go, I would leave her lying in bed or sitting in the sofa until the next visit, but she was the kind of person you didn't want to leave alone because she had no one who would visit her. It was very sad,” she remembers.
Kris used to visit her twice a day, in full PPE with a mask covering her face, but “I knew she was happy when I hugged her, held her hands or brushed her hair. Those were precious moments.".
"I once took a lady out, as she could only leave the house accompanied. We went to Sandbank's hotel and sat on the terrace to have tea and cake. She told the waitress that she had taken me there for the first time and was very proud of this. It was a sunny afternoon and I took her picture with Old Harry Rocks in the background. We had a wonderful day."
After a year and a half, Kris won the Carer of the Year award and her career progressed quickly. Now she works as part of the Bluebird Care Bournemouth and Poole Office Support Team as a Customer Support Supervisor. In her role, she not only talks to and meets any new people looking for care, she also gets the opportunity to continue visiting customers. "I have meet 90% of our customer in person. I am proud to know that I can help whoever calls the office, I know the care plans, the routines, the carers, etc." she says.
Kris says being a Home Care Assistant is one of the best things she has ever done.
"All carers have to be kind, loving, empathetic and professional, but knowing that you are making a difference in other people's lives is very satisfying."
