“Leslie is a very dedicated caregiver and makes a huge impact on her clients and families. She makes a lasting impression on our clients and their families with her skills, her caring and her kind words. I am very blessed to have her as part of the Firefly Family.” – Rachelle, Leslie Manager.
Tell us a little about you, Leslie: I’m originally from Texas and lived for several years in
the Washington, D.C. area where both of my kids were born. I’ve lived in Indiana for
thirteen years now where I’m a caregiver, wife, and mother of two. It was a goal of mine
to pick my kids up from school and attend all their games. I’m a registered nurse
working as a caregiver because I knew I could balance caregiving with the needs of my
family. By working at Firefly, I have the flexibility I need. I even took time off when my
kids were seniors in high school, and then I also took time off to care for my dad. I
wouldn’t have been able to do that working for anyone else.
How long have you worked for Firefly and what types of work do you do with clients?
This is my sixth year working for Firefly. I’m an on-demand caregiver, which means they
call me when they have a need. Currently, I’m with a client for forty-hours a week, but
the hours fluctuate quite a bit depending upon what I’m able to work. I’ve worked with
a lot of clients who have Parkinson’s disease, helping with activities of daily living,
provide medication reminders, and offering encouragement. With Parkinson’s disease,
everything freezes, and even walking can be difficult. Sometimes a client just needs
encouragement to keep trying and keep moving.
What do you find is the most fulfilling or interesting part of your job? I find the most
fulfillment in developing relationships with the client and their family. As a caregiver,
you get to know people on a deeper level. My clients have helped me just as much as
I’ve ever helped them and I gain a lot of wisdom from the experiences they share with
me. The most interesting part of the job is working with people and their distinct
personalities and backgrounds. They enrich your life.
Do you live by any words of wisdom? My husband and I were just talking about this
recently. We live by the golden rule—always treat others how you want to be treated.
It’s the example we’ve tried to set for our children.
What is your favorite way to spend a day off from work? I enjoy cooking. We enjoy
French cooking. Today my husband and I made seafood Alfredo. For Father’s Day, we
made a huge seafood boil with crab, mussels, and shrimp. My husband and I also enjoy
traveling. We often go to Lake Michigan. I enjoy doing all kinds of water activities.
What is the most interesting place you’ve gone to? My husband and I recently went to
Ireland. We both love going to concerts and he took me to see Garth Brooks while we
were there. As a family, we went to Salem, Massachusetts during the Halloween season.
We all dressed up and had a great time.
Is there something unique you do? I’m on the Selective Service Board for Elkhart
County, which is a Presidential-appointed position. As a board member, I have to stay
up-to-date with laws that are passed related to Selective Service. For example, until
recently, young men were required to sign up for Selective Service when they turned
eighteen. A law just passed and now young men are signed up automatically when they
turn eighteen. Most of what I do is to keep my education up to date in case a draft is
called. Then, I’ll be prepared and know what needs to be done for our country.
