“I enjoy working for Firefly. It’s very fulfilling work because you can help people who aren’t able to do some things for themselves.” – Anna C.
Where did you grow up? I moved around a lot growing up. I’m originally from Virginia, but I also lived in Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia before moving to Goshen, Indiana, about seven years ago.
Do you have any brothers or sisters? There are seven of us in total. I’m in the very middle. I have three older brothers, a younger brother, and two younger sisters.
How long have you been a caregiver with Firefly? I’ve been with Firefly for two years. When Covid first started, I was looking for a job. I never thought I would do this type of work, but when the door opened and I took this job, I realized how much I enjoy the work.
What training did you receive to become a caregiver? There was an orientation that was a couple of days in the office, then there was a one-hour session in the field with a caregiver who showed me the hands-on work.
How many clients do you see each week? I have three clients Monday through Thursday for two or three hours each, then I have two clients on Fridays. Most of my clients have dementia. All of them are good people to work with.
How do you approach meeting a new client for the first time? I read over their care plan before I go to their home. Then once I get there, I ask questions about what they need and then also some questions to get to know them better. A lot of them like to know a little about me, so I’ll share a little too.
What do you enjoy most about working for Firefly and with their clients? I enjoy working for Firefly. It’s very fulfilling work because you can help people who aren’t able to do some things for themselves. I enjoy talking to them while I work, and most of them are also very interested in what is going on in my life too.
Would you recommend caregiving as a job? If someone wanted to work in healthcare, it’s a great start. I’m a student at Ivy Tech, and I just completed a two-year health care specialist program. I’m transferring to nursing to get an RN degree.
Have you thought about what area you want to work in when you get a degree? I’ve thought about either working in hospice care, or labor and delivery.
What do you like to do when you aren’t in school or working? I play the piano, and I like to play volleyball. I also enjoy doing anything outside—taking long walks or hiking.
Miss B. is a client of Anna’s shared her experience with Anna: “Anna is a delight! I couldn’t imagine making it through a week without her. She knows what I need and just does it. She’s only here for two or three hours in a day, but those hours make a big difference to me. When I’m having a rough day, she always makes me smile or laugh. I don’t always want to get up and move around, but Anna knows this is what I need. She encourages me to walk around and says, ‘just lean on me’. She goes above and beyond, not because she feels she has to, but she genuinely wants to help.”
