Runner Up
Rachel's Story

I always wondered what my purpose in life is. I know that most of my life has been spent taking care of other people. I was 23 years old when I started care giving in many differ- ent jobs. I worked in nursing homes, and I was a Site Director for an adult daycare center. Then about seven years ago, I started working for the County of San Luis Obispo, CA.

The program I work for is called In Home Support Services, and it makes care giving the most rewarding for me. I help the elderly, physically and/or mentally disabled people to be able to stay safely in their own homes. The biggest fear that I notice with my clients is for them to be taken out of their homes that they have worked all their lives for, because they are unable to do the simple things in life that they used to take for granted. Simple things like cooking, cleaning, shopping and bathing themselves.

Although I work as an emergency caregiver who fills in for those who are unable to have a regular caregiver, or who need someone temporarily, I have found I become very close to my clients. The clients depend on me for support and sometimes I am the only person they have contact with. Many of my clients have no family or their families may live too far away to care for them. To be able to help others in this way has to be the most re- warding, because I can do simple things that mean the world to my clients. These simple things keep them in their own homes.

Clients also give me joy by sharing their life stories and wisdom. Sometimes they can even be charming and witty. They also appreciate your kindness too. If you show them love, some will in return give it back to you. The most reward in care giving is to give of yourself and to feel that you make a difference in someone else's life. There is no better feeling. I love that feeling and I love helping others. As you see, I no longer wonder what my pur- pose in life is. I was meant to be a Caregiver.