Camille’s Clients ‘Are Like Her Grandparents’
Trying to remain true to Filipino cultural tradition, Camille Gayle Daly happily assumed the role of family caregiver whenever she could, but Camille didn’t feel she served nearly as often as she would have wanted. However, Camille was on course to serve many more than just family members because she working hard to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
“Being a family caregiver in my home country is definitely a part of the way we function in an extended family. In my case, my grandparents lived two hours away, so I was unable to care for them on an ongoing basis. But when I had long breaks from school, I always made sure I visited them and helped my grandmother take care of my grandfather when he was sick,” explained Camille, who became a Filipino registered nurse. She had four years of hospital experience, specializing in the pediatrics and intensive care unit, before moving to the U.S.
Since moving to the United States, Camille has focused on passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to be a registered nurse in America. When she got her work permit May 2020, she looked online for jobs within her professional realm. Camille applied with a couple of senior-care agencies and had phone interviews, but one of the requirements is a driver’s license, which she doesn’t have yet.
“I kept browsing, and Home Instead® of Philadelphia stood out because its purple logo happens to be my favorite color. I read Home Instead’s requirements, and a driver’s license was not a must, so I submitted my application. A couple of days later, Home Instead’s human resources manager, Charlea Grieco, called and conducted a phone interview. She was so nice, and I immediately knew I had found the perfect company,” said Camille, who celebrated her first anniversary with Home Instead in July.
The Home Instead CAREGiver’s position at owner Steve Levin’s award-winning franchise was perfect for Camille in several respects.
“Since I didn’t feel I had much of a chance to take care of my grandparents as a result of having to study for my BSN, I want to make up for those lost opportunities by taking care of my Home Instead clients. I know it doesn’t exactly take the place of those missed family-caregiving chances, but I love the opportunities I have with Home Instead,” Camille said.
She added: “To me, my clients are like my own grandparents. Also, seeing my clients happy every time I am with them during each shift is priceless. The way they hold my hand and thank me for everything I do for them is just heartwarming.”
Camille has stories that include new experiences of which she never could have dreamt before she joined Home Instead.
“My client is bilingual, and she taught me some words from her native language so now I can speak the basics and I understand some words,” Camille said. “And the one thing I love the most is our adventures together. We always roam around the city and just enjoy the fresh air and views despite the fact she’s in a wheelchair. It’s good to finally be back to relatively normal times after the isolation during COVID-19.”
Camille, who was honored as her franchise’s CAREGiver of the Month for June, is appreciated by people who are not clients and their families or Home Instead office staff.
“There was one instance when I accompanied my client to her eye doctor’s appointment, and I was assisting her all throughout the time. I didn’t know that a lady was watching us until the point when we began to leave the clinic. She approached us, tapped my client’s back and told her that she was so lucky to have me because I am so caring to her. Then the friendly stranger added that we’re lucky to have each other. That really melted my heart, knowing that others, not just my clients, appreciate me for what I do,” Camille said.
Camille said that since she’s a fairly new employee, she didn’t expect to be recognized as a CAREGiver of the Month. She has been interested in becoming familiar with her colleagues who had been honored. “I always read the CAREGiver of the Month stories in our Home Instead monthly newsletter because I want to learn from my colleagues’ work ethic,” Camille said.
Their inner drive and senior-care skills – as well as Camille’s – are unmatched. For Camille and her fellow CAREGivers, touching lives impacts their souls, whether they are providing physical help such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders or personal care or if they are offering emotional support in a companionship role.
Camille and the Philadelphia CAREGivers among more than 90,000 CAREGivers worldwide, and they have helped add to those numbers because of their strong belief in Home Instead’s purpose. It isn’t hard to see Camille and her CAREGiver teammates live the Home Instead principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”
All Home Instead CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (215) 925-4610 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
