Gladys Anthony 2008 Mid-Atlantic Regional CAREGiver of the Year
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Taking care of people comes naturally to Gladys Anthony, the 2008 Mid-Atlantic Regional CAREGiver of the Year. The third child and oldest girl in a family of nine, she helped her mother--a caregiver herself and her daughter's role model--look after her siblings.
After raising her own family of six and working in a factory for more than 16 years, Anthony was looking for another career. Her sister introduced her to caregiving as a profession. Then, through a friend, Gladys learned about Home Instead Senior Care® in 2002. During this time, she also was the sole caregiver for her husband until his death. She also cares for two adult disabled children who live at home and is a grandmother of 11.
Six years since starting her work with Home Instead Senior Care, Anthony has become one of the office's most trusted CAREGivers. What's more, she is a treasured friend to not only the dozens of clients she has served, but also to their families.
"Gladys always goes above and beyond," says the daughter of her current client. "It's just a given that you can count on her. She's simply 'one big heart' walking around."
Although, at 73, Anthony is close in age to many of her clients, she handles her responsibilities with the vigor of a young person. From preparing breakfast and lunch, to providing showering, dressing and grooming assistance to doing laundry and keeping the kitchen clean, she handles it all smoothly, five days a week.
A family member of one of her clients says she's impressed by how well Gladys looks after her mother's safety and independence. "She's willing to take however long it takes to help Mom do as much as she can for herself in an effort to maintain her independence and dignity. She's even gotten into the shower with my mom when needed rather than just handing her a cloth at the sink. Interestingly, I think Mom trusts Gladys more than she trusts me, her own daughter."
And, every day she steps inside her clients' homes, Anthony is always there to provide a soft word and gentle touch for those who may face physical and emotional hardships.
"Mom gets out of bed for Gladys where she may not want to for others," comments a family member. "I don't think twice about whether Mom's okay when she's with Gladys. Our peace of mind has been priceless and we just never had the same comfort level with any other provider before we found Home Instead Senior Care."
Anthony says her motivation and commitment to her clients comes from a genuine caring for them. "I'm able to do something for someone and help people do things they can't do for themselves. When you walk in and see how their faces light up and how they just want to hold your hand, it just makes you feel good. That's when you know you're doing a good job."
Her most memorable client, Anthony recalls, was a woman she took care of for more than five years. "She and I were just like sisters," she says. "She would take her hands and gently hold my face. When she eventually was in a nursing home, I said to her, 'You don't need me to come anymore.' She said, 'I don't need you, but I want you to come.'"
Anthony has a unique ability to put herself in her client's shoes and quickly establish a relationship, one that her clients feel has already been a long-time friendship. That bond extends to her clients' families, as well.
The children of one client count her as a member of their own family. In 2007, they included her in a family trip to Texas--giving Anthony her first trip in an airplane. She treasures the experience, remembering the "good time" the group had.
The most important qualities in a CAREGiver, Anthony says, are these: "You need to be a kind person, you have to love and respect people. Just because your client may be old doesn't mean they don't have feelings. They're intelligent people. You just have to have love in your heart for them."
Anthony encourages family members who are caring for an older loved one to not feel they're alone. "If it's getting to be too much, seek extra help like from a CAREGiver. Family members should pay attention to how their loved one responds to someone who comes in to help and how the CAREGiver responds to their loved one."
Anthony believes she brings value to the families because she can "take off some pressure" they may feel. "They don't have to be worried about their loved one."
"I'm going to be a CAREGiver as long as I'm able to," she says. The job, "helps me, too, to be stronger and more vibrant by getting out and doing for others. It gives me a sense of completion. I just feel good about what I do."