Chevonne Baker does this job because she is good at it, because she cares. She gets a sense of pride when her clients brighten up as she walks into the room. She credits her success as a care worker to her brisk efficiency, tempered with empathy. When a client is difficult, Baker keeps her cool, sometimes stepping outside the room for a few moments to compose herself. She is a master of small talk, keeping up a steady stream of cheerful banalities as she opens curtains, dusts and stacks crockery and attends to personal care.
She understands that she may be the only person her elderly clients see all day, so she makes an effort to draw them into conversation. She understands that if they are rude it is because they have no one else at whom they can vent their frustration. She understands that a care worker’s job is about more than personal care. She is a confidante, a support network, a healthcare professional and a companion.
