Memoir of a Student Caregiver

Life is indeed a toss and turn; one has to always be prepared to make the best out of what life throws at you. A year ago, gaining a scholarship to study in Ireland was a dream comes true, more especially after going through a rigorous application process. I arrived safely, unfortunately covid-19 interrupted and classes had to be online. My dreams of meeting new people, learning the Irish culture became impossible.?All of my lectures were in the evening, so I had to look out for a means of meeting people, and I started searching for a job that would give me that opportunity to meet people

Throughout my life, my passion had always and will forever be ?to serve humanity,?but I never?knew the true meaning?of those words until I gained employment at the homeinstead blackpool homeInstead Senior Care Cork Ireland (care for elderly) as?a caregiver. The very first few weeks were very tedious, I?saw myself waking up very early in the cold winter running to meet ?clients,?I was not used?to walking,?being time conscious, or taking care of different elderly people at the same time.?My first client was an elderly?woman, I?still miss her till date, after taking care of her & her home, we could sing songs like ?one more step along the world, she would explain about ?gender inequality that existed in Ireland years ago?and I kept on explaining about the existing ?inequality between men and women in my country. Saying goodbye to her each day was a hard thing to do, and at the end of the service she required, she sent me a thank you card, which till date I still hold dearly.

My second client was an elderly man, oh!!! It was a beautiful scene, seeing another caregiver & I singing for him, and he would explain all the beautiful life experiences he had. ?I went to work one day and I met his daughter in front of their gate saying Lois your friend is gone and she requested that I go up and say goodbye. At that point of my life, I realised everything we fight for is meaningless, ?I returned to campus ?emotionally drained, I couldn’t cry before the family but my friends later consoled me saying I had to accept my grandfather was gone.?I met so many clients after which, some did not like me, whiles others will even ask me to stay a little longer than required. One ?day I was going to a client’s house and there was this unexpected ?heavy down pour of rain, I was soaked like a bird, my?friend Isha called and had to pick me up, we went home?and had to change and they?were?very?angry because?I going back ?under?the heavy down pour?of rain to work. They scolded me saying, you ??are here to study, if anything goes wrong???these people would not care for you. I was almost?in tears?telling them this elderly?is bedridden ,?I?had?to?go to attend?to him, to?ensure he eats?and well cleaned,. I had to justify why I had to go under the rain to care for someone I don’t even know, but each day I felt the responsibility of putting a little smile on the faces of my clients and that simple thought kept me going.

It ??was then I realized???the complexity involved in serving humanity, most times you have to put the needs of others before yours. ?I?wish?sometimes?words??could?express ?how I felt?or what I went??through?but??I am?grateful?to HomeInstead Senior Care for giving?me the opportunity to be a care giver within those?8 months, however,?experiences gained were remarkable, I had job satisfaction; I learnt a lot more than I would have ever imagined. I met other caregivers from different nationalities, India, Nigerian, Irish, Brazillian, Congolese, Pakistan e.t. c. Amongst them were perfectionists, racists, hardworking, funny, friendly, and snobbish. One goal I had was to learn from each and every one of them as they had very unique personalities and experience that I needed.?