Betty's Story

I decided to become a carer because I wanted to look after people. My husband Philip and I were running our own business, making headstones, when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The youngest of my three sons was ten at the time.  

During the operation to remove the brain tumour Philip had a stroke and was paralysed on his right side. I closed the business look after him and he died the following year. My dad became sick, and I cared for him, and I lost him within six months of my husband.  I was with him when he passed away. 

My son runs the business now. I decided I had to do something different. I have a caring nature and I decided to go back to college and became a carer. 

I remember the day I graduated, wearing a hat and gown. Mum had been in hospital, and I went straight to show her the picture. She said: ‘Philip and your dad would be so proud of you.’ And I started crying. 

I love working with Bluebird Care. They are all so good in the office, they respect us, and we respect them. I’ve done loads of courses including medication and palliative care.

I build up a relationship with my clients and they feel like part of my family, I treat them like family. I like them to be treated the way I’d like someone to look after me when it’s my turn to be looked after. 

I look after Janet who is 92, and she adores me, and I adore her. Usually, I go to her for an hour in the morning, and an hour later on. But one day I was there for six hours when she was sick, she had a bug. She was so frightened, and she was terrified of going into hospital. I stayed with her, and that’s what caring is all about. 

I have looked after different ages from children to 100 years old. This job is flexible. In 2018 I took seven weeks off to visit my son in Australia and when I came back, I decided to cut back on my hours.  

Now I’m 60 years old and I work 16 hours a week. When I’m not working, I like to go fishing in the river and in the lakes. I also enjoy knitting and reading.  

I live on my own and it’s nice to go out and see people. Working with Bluebird Care I might bump into another carer, and we have a quick chat, or we go for a coffee.  

I enjoy knowing that I’m going out every day to look after someone. I want to give them the best of my care and I just love doing it. I look forward to going to work.