Chris Follows Her Heart to Senior Care
For CAREGiver of the Month Chris Davis, senior care is a ministry and a fulfilling change from her previous job.
Chris had labored in an office for most of her working years, having retired from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) in Pennsylvania. “I was no longer happy with that type of work. I felt God was placing a calling on my heart to help the elderly or disabled,” said Chris, who joined Home Instead® of Clearwater in August 2019 after she and her husband had moved to Florida.
Chris felt the gentle pull on her compassionate heart strings when she was in her early 20s. “I assisted an elderly neighbor in a wheelchair who had post-polio syndrome. I was asked to help put her to bed each night and get her up in the morning to get ready for her day. We were very close, and we loved each other like family. I helped her until she passed away at age 89 from cancer,” Chris recalled.
“After that time, I went to work in the DPW clerical department and eventually became the clerical supervisor. It was a stressful office in which to work. My husband and I decided to move to Florida in 2019 because he wanted to retire.
Another gentle tug on Chris’s heart strings came one night at her church. “My pastor and I were talking about what we thought God was calling us to do. Caregiving immediately came to my mind because I’m fascinated by the elderly and the many experiences they have had throughout their lives,” Chris explained.
Again, she had a memory from which to draw when she considered senior care – Chris had served as a family caregiver for her mother. “She had been a diabetic since age 13 and had many health problems as a result,” Chris said.
“I never wanted her to be in a nursing home, so my husband and I had an apartment built onto the back of the house. She had a full apartment with a separate entrance, kitchen, living room and bedroom with walk-in closet. It was everything the way that she wanted.”
Chris added: “Unfortunately, she passed away six years later at age 63 from complications of a stroke. I was very blessed to have those years living with her and having her there with my children.”
Sadly, Chris’s mother is gone, but one of her Home Instead clients treated Chris as if she were a daughter. The 95-year-old client did not have children. “I stayed with her for 24-hour shifts at a time because she could not be left alone. I would take her shopping, as well as taking her to get her hair done and nails done. She loved makeup and would sit at her vanity for hours applying makeup. She was beautiful,” Chris said.
“She loved going to Applebee’s for French onion soup. I cared for her for almost two years. She passed away at 95, and I stayed with her until she went into a hospice house. I prayed with her and was able to comfort her in her final days. It was very rewarding. I like helping others and making their lives easier so they can age happily with love and dignity.”
Chris is among more than 100,000 CAREGivers worldwide, and she has helped add to those numbers because of her strong belief in Home Instead’s purpose and core values. Those core values are: “Honor God in all we do; Treat each other with dignity and respect; Encourage growth in ourselves and others; Build value in our service to others.”
Our office serves all of Pinellas County, including Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, Largo, Pinellas Park, Seminole, Belleair, St. Petersburg, Gulfport and surrounding beaches. All Home Instead CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (727) 799-1400 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
