Case Study: Roisin's Story

Aileen is 95, I’m very fond of her, and I know she feels the same about me. We’re so used to each other. I see her twice a day and I’ve built up a real bond with her. Aileen is a widow who has lived in her home for around sixty years. There are photographs all around of her husband and her family. 

I light the fire for her before she gets up in the morning, I do her shopping and I make her bed, but more than anything Aileen loves me to chat to her, it means so much to her. She loves company, she loves to tell me stories, and she loves that I’m interested in them too. I’ve heard about her childhood on the farm, about how her neighbours looked after each other, and about the first day they had electricity. 

One day Aileen took out her photograph album and we went through it together; she was able to tell me who all the people were. Sometimes she feels she’s getting forgetful, so it was lovely for her to be able to do that. We’ve laughed together too. 

I’ve looked forward to seeing Aileen and she looked forward to my calls too. Her sister said she felt the fact I was coming into her was almost keeping her alive. Aileen is in hospital now and all she wants to do is come home. Her home is very important to her. 

I saw an ad for Bluebird Care on Facebook, and it seemed like the ideal job for me. I’m the eldest of seven and helped to look after my younger brothers and sisters when we were growing up. I really love looking after people and helping them. 

Mary is 103 and every time I see her, she starts singing All Kinds of Everything by Dana, and so I’ve played it for her on Spotify. 

Eden is 92 and used to love going out to play bridge. I downloaded bridge onto her iPad and her face lit up when she saw it. She says its great to be able to play with other people online, it keeps her mind sharp. She also likes doing jigsaws and I cleared an area for her to do them.  

Eden likes me to look up stuff for her online. She’s told me stories about her life when she was in England, about working in a hotel and going to the dances. I could see her brightening up as she was talking about it. 

I have my regular clients and I love going in and having a chat to them. No education in the world is going to give you the wisdom that these ladies have. I’ve learnt so much from them. It’s a privilege to be able to listen to their stories. I always go in with a smile on my face. 

I treat people the way I’d want people to treat my kids. Older people need to be listened to, looked after and respected. I get to know their routine.  

Bluebird Care are very easy to work with. The training and support I’ve had from them has been fantastic. I feel like I’m part of a family. 

I think about my customers when I’m not with them. I really do care about the people I go to see; I wear my heart on my sleeve, I can’t help it. 

I think you need empathy to be a carer and to be someone who really cares about other people.  

I look forward to going to work, it doesn’t feel like work. My husband said: ‘its lovely to see you heading off to a job that you love.’ 

I feel like I’m making a difference and that makes you feel better about yourself. This job has enriched my life.