Susan S. Care Companion in Stanhope, NJ 07874

Hi my name is Sue Schecktman. Since i was a young girl i have always had a need to help out people. I remember going to the local hospital and wanting to volunteer as a Candy Striper. But i wasn't quite old enough yet to volunteer. I had a friend that worked doing laundry at a nursing home nearby to where i lived. I remember visiting her there and wanting a job there as well. The main reason was just so that i could be close to the elderly and offer them a helping hand or companionship because they would want someone there so desperately to just hold their hand or just to talk to them. Being a humanitarian is what drew me so close to them. But unfortunately there were no positions like that for a young girl. When i was a little older i decided to get a job working at a nearby Nursing Home. I was hired to work in Dietary helping prepare the trays for the residents there. I couldn't wait for them to come and eat. I was so happy to lend a helping hand and get them what they needed or just to introduce myself and ask them if they were having a good day. Most of them were so very unhappy and the nurses there were horrible to them. Literally forcing the food down there throats. And all i could think of was if they could have handled the situation differently or been kind to them instead of so very nasty. When i saw the way that they were being treated i went right away to speak to my supervisor and then to the Director of the Facility. But needless to say i didn't get anywhere. That is when i made up my mind that the job there was not for me. A long time had passed before i decided to venture out again into the field of eldercare. But as luck would have it i had a friend of mine who was working through a Companionship Agency called Grannies Nannies. She told me about how much she enjoyed her position there and everything that the job entailed. So i decided to give it a whirl despite my past experience. After all i thought , what did i have to loose. Well it all turned out for the best. Working there was truly one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Not only did i get to provide companionship, I would get to prepare their meals ,run errands, help them out with their laundry and housecleaning, dispense medications, And would even get to drive them to their appointments as needed. But most importantly just to be there for them and to hold their hand and let them know that i care. For me their was nothing more special and truly gratifying in life.