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Joan - My Bluebird Care Journey

It was such a special moment, and one that will stay with me forever. I was caring for Mary who had dementia, she was crying in the sitting room and so I decided to put on her favourite music. 

We both got up and started dancing. Then her daughter came in and her little granddaughter, and they joined in too, and we were all dancing and laughing and cheering. And Mary’s husband came down to see what all the noise was about. And he was laughing in the doorway. It was a lovely, happy moment, and I just wished their lives could be like that all the time. 

I used to work in an office. My partner was in a bad accident as he was driving to work one morning, and he was severely brain injured. Our son was just ten weeks old at the time. He was in a coma for six months and in hospital for a year and a half before he came home. I had to give up work to take care of him. That was the start of my caring career. 

When I went back to the office again, I missed caring. The office was brilliant, and the staff were lovely, but I just thought that I should be helping people rather than making people rich. I’ve always had a caring nature. 

In 2018 I joined Bluebird Care as a health care assistant.  

I enjoy the variety in my job, listening to all the stories and meeting all the different personalities.  

Mary liked tickles. I’d take her socks off and tickle her feet. ‘I knew you were going to do that,’ she’d say, and she’d laugh. 

Deirdre is in her late eighties and lives alone. If she was sad just telling her a funny story or putting my arms around her would change her mood and her day. 

Justin was a lovely man in his late eighties, and he had Alzheimer’s. He used to call me curly because I have curly hair. We’d go for a walk in the garden, and he’d chat about the roses and the trees. 

It’s lovely to see the difference you can make to people. I have about ten clients and I really couldn’t pick a favourite. ‘She’s so good to me,’ they say. But I’m like that with all of them. One of my clients said to me this morning: ‘you’re part of the family"
 

My youngest client was 24 and the oldest client I have is 98. My clients include twin girls who are 30 and have learning difficulties. For them to be at home, and for their mum and dad to have them at home is amazing. I go in about four times a week and they’re so excited to see me, it’s brilliant. They want hugs and kisses, and they’re smiling and happy. It lifts my spirits. When I’m leaving, they’re looking through the window, waving goodbye, holding up their fingers to show me how long it is until I’m back again. 

I work up to 40 hours a week and I’ve found the courses I’ve done with Bluebird Care really interesting. I like to learn. 

Thanks to the skills I have learnt with Bluebird Care I’m now able to help my own family. My sister was diagnosed with a brain tumour and she’s in a hospice. She wants to spend her last few weeks at home. I asked the office for four weeks off work to care for her and they said it was no problem. I’m absolutely honoured to be able to do it. 

I’m glad I gave up office work to do this job. It wasn’t fulfilling enough, there was something missing. I was put here to help people and it’s lovely. In 2022 I was named as Healthcare Assistant of the Year at Bluebird Care’s annual awards. 

I look forward to work, and it’s the only time I’ve had a job where I don’t mind getting up in the morning. Knowing I have made someone’s life better is what makes it so satisfying. 

 

Joan Pictured alongside Emma Dennis and Ailsing Murray after winning " Carer of the Year" with Bluebird Care in 2022