Care Pro Spotlight: Nasyitah Nawwarah
Every caregiver has a unique story, and every story has the power to touch the lives of family members, loved ones, friends, coworkers, and the greater community. Continue reading to read Care Pro Nasyitah’s inspiring & moving caregiving story!
Introducing, Nasyitah!
Nasyitah has been an active Homage Caregiver since December 2021. Prior to joining Homage, she spent a year providing care in a private Shah Alam elderly home and has cared for both her grandparents at home, which makes her an accomplished caregiver.
Nasyitah is renowned for being attentive, emphatic, and passionate when providing care, and her extroverted nature has made it easy for her to forge an instant connection with her patients!
What is something valuable you’ve gained from taking care of your own grandparents?
Caring for your grandparents can teach you a lot about caregiving, including skills such as patience, compassion, and resourcefulness. Caregiving was not an entirely new experience for me as living with my grandparents meant that I grew up providing care to them. This road has led me to where I am now, where I want to be able to love, care, and fulfill the needs of many others, especially those who are in need of support.
Grandparents are great in the way they are treasure troves of life experiences and I learned to listen to their advice at a young age. Main valuable things that I have learned when taking care of my parents are:
1. Have faith in yourself and your abilities. My grandmother was very religious so her faith was her guide. In turn, I have channeled my own personal faith into growing as a person and believing that I can take risks in life and knowing I will be okay in the end.
2. Be of service to others. No matter if it is one person in your life or thousands. We all should try to make a difference in humanity, which is something that I hold dearly up until now as a Homage Caregiver.
What’s the difference between taking care of your own loved ones compared to your clients?
Family caregiving is a fulfilling experience that is full of rewards beyond the responsibilities one takes up. Becoming a caregiver is about looking after someone without expecting anything in return, be it payment or any form of compensation. However, you simply can’t avoid the reality that emotion is a part of every relationship and how that can lead to a messy environment. As a family caregiver, you may neglect yourself in terms of your time and emotions, which can get overwhelming. Unlike a caregiver who expects nothing while caring for their clients, being a family caregiver gives expectations or strings attached. Sometimes it can take a toll on you, leading to stress, frustration, and, if left unchecked, resentment. I usually find myself to be more emotionally vulnerable as I am living with them and see them on a daily basis.
Different from taking care of your clients, you are there to help care for another person and not necessarily intrude in their personal lives and make decisions on their behalf. You are there to empower and encourage the person you are taking care of to make the right choices and be responsible for their actions.
With some experience working at the nursing homes, what do you see different as compared to taking care of seniors in Homage?
In nursing homes, patients receive round-the-clock assistance, ranging from personal grooming, meals, cleaning, to moving around, from onsite nurses and carers. Taking care of elders at nursing homes is more hectic compared to those at home simply because there are too many residents to take care of and insufficient staff number which leads to the worst kind of burnout.
Home care is a more private choice that allows your loved one to stay in the comfort of their own home, allowing the caregiver to focus on the senior’s ability to age gracefully and peacefully. With Homage, I get to concentrate on one senior at a time, get to know them personally, earn their confidence, and establish a connection with them at my own pace.
Giving elders care in the comfort of their own homes would allow them to age with dignity. The smiles on their faces serve as a constant reminder that even if the job may not be the most glamorous, it is nonetheless worthwhile.
How has caregiving changed you as a person?
Caring for others has taught me compassion and patience. It has given me a fresh perspective on how a person’s personality and behaviors when they were younger may influence them as they age. It has made me understand how crucial it is to genuinely look after your relationships with other people as well as your physical and mental wellbeing. Keeping solid and strong ties with family and friends is important to sustain the support system needed during your golden years.
What do you find challenging as a caregiver? How do you find your source of support all throughout to maintain and improve your own physical and mental health?
Caregiver skills cover a wide range of responsibilities that require endless amounts of energy, empathy, and patience. The time that I spend caring for my Care Recipients is one of the most fulfilling experiences I have had in my life, but it also comes with its own unique challenges.
As people age, their dexterity and mobility naturally decline. This can make completing everyday tasks challenging, including things like meal preparation and feeding, bathing, grooming and dressing. You might find yourself working with an elderly person who refuses to ask for help. There are a number of reasons why this could be the case. Either, they believe they do not need help or they might be reluctant to give up the independence they have had for so many years. Or they might know that they need help but they could be too embarrassed to ask. In this situation, it is important to apply a gentle touch. I would not force them to accept my care, but instead gently help them from a distance.
The emotional and physical demands involved with caregiving can strain even the most resilient person. To prevent this from happening, I would make an effort to stay well-connected with family and friends who can offer nonjudgmental emotional support. I would make sure to set aside time each week for connecting, even if it’s just a walk with a friend!
Will you encourage others to choose caregiving as a career? Why?
Of course! Aside from the fact that there is a huge demand for caregivers in our country right now, being a caregiver teaches you that no matter who you are in this world, we are all human beings, which helps you become humble and grounded. Keep in mind to be kind to everyone and everything always!
Offering Primary Caregivers Respite and Support
Homage has many caregivers from different walks of life with the common goal to help seniors and adults in their road to recovery. Our home care and support is aimed at empowering them to continue living healthy, fulfilling lives. At Homage, working as a Care Professional grants you a wide array of opportunities and advantages:
- Stay flexible with a better work-life balance as a freelance, part-time or full-time Care Professional
- Receive a stable income or competitive salary package that corresponds to their knowledge, skillset, and experience
- Gain opportunities to work with us regularly and tier up in your career pathway as a Care Professional
- Upgrade your skills with holistic and specialised training and certifications from our training partners and in-house specialists
