CAREGiver of the Month: February

Our CAREGiver of the Month for February 2013 is Herb!

This summer Herb raised $555 for The Alzheimer's Society of Manitoba's Memory Walk - the top caregiver fundraiser on the Home Instead Senior Care team - an example of the kind of guy he is. Compassionate and thoughtful.

Herb answered a few questions about being a CAREGiver:

What's a memorable moment you've had with a client?

A memorable moment is actually memorable events that is still ongoing. One client when I first was introduced to him, was very cold and negative towards me, he seemed like he was upset with the whole world. He didn't like the place where he is living and whenever I took him to different outing, he would always say "whatever" when I told him where we were going that day and he didn't seem to care. He never wanted to try mini-golf or go shot some pool, he would say "I don't want to."

I would then take him to different museums all over town and in the summer to all kinds of parks. He seems to really like St.Vital Duck Pond, watching people as they came by feeding the ducks & geese. It brought memories for him, of his younger days, when he would go hunting with with his buddies. I was always amazed at his ability to remember all the different types of geese that would come by.

Over the months and years that have passed he has now become very fond of me and looks forward to his weekly outing. A few times when I was away or sick , he would mention how much he missed his weekly outing . In this last year I have even taken him back to mini-golf locations and also to play pool , and he likes it now. He even wins a few games here and there. He approves of me now, looks forward to his weekly outing, no matter where we go, that's what he told me just last week.

Why did you decide to become a caregiver?

I decided to get involved after I retired from my job early because of a back injury . My wife went into a Nursing Home, it was there that I noticed several residents, who had Elderly Companions and as I observed what they were doing I felt that is what I could be doing as well. So I then went online, to inquiry about elderly companions. And Home Instead Senior Care, was one that came up. I wrote down the phone # and called. I was interviewed by Brian. I think that was about four years ago.


Thank you Herb for all your hard work!