Voice of a Caregiver - Camille Stamps, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Voice of a Caregiver project is designed to highlight the experiences of caregivers. In Voice of a Caregiver direct support professionals, tell of the joys and difficulties they experience in their everyday work, Each story evolves out of a series of in depth interviews and is told in the worker's voice.
Camille Stamps, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Clairidge House
“Why don’t you try being a caregiver again?”, my cousin asked me when I became tired of factory work. When I was in my early twenties, I completed a nursing assistant course, but didn’t get certified because I thought, “this is not for me!” Yet I find myself now, working for four years at Clairidge House and loving being a CNA! My cousin was right; she and my extended family are very supportive of me and my work. That support is very important, not just to me, but also to other family members as they study to become nurses, medical technicians and nursing assistants. We are a family of caregivers.
In my close-knit care giving family, we look out for each other and help each other. Teamwork is just a natural way of life for us. When my grandmother (I called her Mama) needed more care than my uncle could provide, my entire family became a care giving team. Mama moved back to Wisconsin and each of her children and grandchildren took turns caring for her until her death. The experience of having Mama live with us brought the family closer together. When it was your turn to have Mama live with you, you were responsible for hosting the traditional Sunday Family Dinner for the entire family. This was a ritual she had carried on for years and which we continued for her, as for us as well.
During the times that Mama lived with me, I loved listening to her stories of traveling around the world with my uncle who has a career with the Navy. Her life was fascinating and we became closer during the time I cared for her. This experience taught me how important it is to “really know and understand someone” which enables you to give them the best possible care. I use my listening skills to reach out to my residents while getting to know them better, allowing me to give them better personal care.
Just as my family worked together to take care of Mama, my co-workers at Clairidge House work together as a team. If someone isn’t able to get work, I don’t grumble because I know that others will help carry the extra load. An excellent example of teamwork is when everyone helps out at mealtime. If needed managers, nurses, housekeeping, laundry all pitch in to help caregivers and dietary workers make residents’ meals a friendly and family-like time. It reminds me of Sunday family dinners with Mama.
Just as I first learned from Mama and my family, now others that I care for are teaching me. I think of Anne, a small feisty, 100 year old lady who I have come to love. She can sometimes be difficult and even physically abusive, but she has a strong ‘will-to-live’! No matter what she goes through, she stays in control. Recently she fell and cut her head. She remained calm and simply said, “Just get me standing…. I’ll be all right” and with our help she was fine. Anne continues to show me the importance of a strong, determined ‘will.’
I love my work and wouldn’t want to do anything else. It is quite rewarding to know that I make a difference in the lives of the residents and their families. I see how hard it is for families to leave their loved one in a nursing home. I receive as much, if not more, than I give. I’m able to put a smile on my resident’s face and they, in turn, put a smile on mine.
