Alexandra Keizer, Continuing Care Assistant in Nova Scotia, spoke with us about what personally enables her to deliver the best care to her clients. Not only is patience and a positive attitude key to the care she provides, but Alexandra also recognizes another significant component – her supportive team at CBI Health standing behind her.
What do you do as a Continuing Care Assistant?
As a Continuing Care Assistant, I assist my clients at home with daily tasks such as personal care, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and respite care, providing relief for family caregivers.
Why did you choose to become a Continuing Care Assistant? How did you get started in the healthcare industry?
A close family member was a Continuing Care Assistant, which is what originally inspired me and gave me the idea to get into the field. I also knew that I wanted to eventually become a pediatric nurse but was looking for a career path I could easily enter into from school, which led me to start taking a Continuing Care Assistant course. Ultimately, I love helping people – it’s what I love about my job.
What motivates and drives your work?
For me, it’s my clients. I love helping them and there are so many aspects of my job that make me feel proud – especially the clients who come right out of the hospital on day one and I get to watch all the progress they’ve made since then. That’s a big motivation for me, just to know that I was a part of that and that I was able to help. Also, being with the company for so long, I’ve come to know many of my clients for several years. I have clients who I’ve been working with for over five years, so it’s incredible to be able to provide care for them at home and see their recovery journey over time.
Tell us about a time when you helped to improve the health of a client.
One of my most recent clients had a stroke awhile back. After working with him and following a custom care plan just for him, he’s now at the point where he can sit on the edge of his bed. That was a big step for him. He’s even moving more naturally now, so it’s been really awesome watching him progress in his recovery. It was a collaborative effort from the beginning, where other team members provided physiotherapy services and I provided home care support to help him get to the place where he’s at now.
Tell us about a time when you were proud of your healthcare team at CBI Health.
Seven months ago, I was on my way to see a client when I got into a car accident. As a result, my schedule not only completely changed that day, but for a few weeks after. One of the amazing care coordinators on my team worked together with me to create a flexible schedule while ensuring I saw my clients in a timely way. Looking back on it now, her thoughtfulness and quick thinking made the entire process of adapting to a new schedule much less stressful. She also made sure that all clients received the care they needed and there weren’t any delays.
How do you ensure you deliver the best care to your clients?
First of all, patience is vital in how I provide care for my clients. Second, listening to them is so important, whether that means listening to what times they prefer receiving care, or how they need assistance with particular tasks. I also pride myself in always being friendly and going in with a really positive attitude – especially with the clients I don’t know as well. I know it can sometimes be nerve-wracking for new clients when new caregivers come into their homes, so they want someone who is truly positive and compassionate. I’m happy to be that person.
What sort of training and educational opportunities have been offered to you at CBI Health?
I have an upcoming CPR training session with one of our supervisors in the company, which will equip me with essential skills while assisting clients in their homes. We also have a great employee portal and online resources that offer tons of helpful training material and videos when I’m looking for additional resources to support me in my role as a Continuing Care Assistant.