Now in her fifth year at We Care Group’s Saltshouse Haven Care Home in Hull, Amy Cotton has loved every minute of her care journey. In 2019 she started as a care worker, progressing year on year to become the much-loved and respected unit manager she is today.
Amy tried her hand at a few things before starting in dementia care, honing her people skills and testing her work ethic in retail and hospitality. But now she’s hooked. She loves dementia care and she can’t see herself doing anything else. Ever.
It all started through storytelling and the wonderful everyday that a care home offers. Amy would sit and listen to second hand stories, laughing and crying along with these tales as she learnt that life in a care home is an emotional rollercoaster (just like everywhere else) and not the stagnant old waiting room that still looms over people’s preconceptions.
“I’d hear these brilliant stories every day and thought I just have to get in and see this for myself. I want to be a part of this thing! It was my mum who worked at Saltshouse as a senior carer years before I got involved,” explained Amy.
Providing care for people is a privilege, that’s what Amy believes, and she started formulating this opinion long before she stepped foot on the care home floor. She’s working hard to change the reputation of care, addressing that it’s emotionally challenging but that’s no reason not to get involved.
She acknowledges two tough areas in dementia care – resident behaviour and emotional attachment or coping with the loss of residents who become so dear, she said: “Emotional care is a huge part of what we do with residents, but it’s important we take care of ourselves in the process, too. I speak for every member of our team when I say that we treat our residents like they’re our own family – we certainly spend more time with them than our own!”
Building relationships with residents and relatives enables Amy and her team to paint a picture of someone’s life, connecting the dots between who they were and who they are today. It’s through these conversations that Amy finds the most validation, she said: “When relatives share stories about years gone by or show their appreciation, even after we’ve lost someone it is just so rewarding. Sometimes care can be heartbreaking, but knowing we’ve made a difference is why we do what we do.”
People from all professions will tell you that ‘no two days are the same’ but does anything really compare to the diversity – and entertainment – delivered by the elderly community?
The vibrancy of care home life is what enticed Amy in the first place. Her love of people paired with her caring nature made her the perfect candidate. After listening so intently years ago to her mum’s stories, it’s now Amy who’s got a tale or two up her sleeve.
Amy said: “I suppose you never really know what’s going to happen in care until it happens. Watching an elderly man scale a six-foot fence – wow. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It’s all part of the fun and certainly makes you think on your feet. I am wholly committed to this cause and I just love this job, so let’s see what the next five years brings!”
wecaregroup.co.uk
