Unice W. - Atlanta Senior Caregiver

Profile of Unice W.

Part-Time, 1 Year of Experience

I have various experience in my past caring for senior citizens. I volunteered for two years, through my college work program to help senior citizens in Palm Beach County, Florida.

One year, I had a live-in position where I prepared the evening meal every day for a 90-year-old senior citizen in her home, according to the instructions of her son. Another year, I volunteered to be a companion and friend of a senior citizen and Palm Beach heiress, who needed transportation to places like the Post Office, Worth Avenue shopping, restaurants, the Bath and Tennis Club, and a hotel for brunch by the ocean. I drove her in my own car and helped her in anyway she needed. I loved listening to her stories and the times she had been through. I loved having her advise me and teach me things about life. It was very rewarding to be able to help her in any way I could. I loved the wisdom of her years, and we became good friends. She was appreciative and kind, and she eventually asked me to become her live-in companion and help. It was not convenient for me at the time, but it showed her confidence in me, and it pleased me to be asked.

In 2003, I met a 73-year-old senior citizen with whom I became fast friends. We didn't live near each other but talked for hours, sometimes days, on the phone. We spent time discussing every subject, well, except politics and religion. She had terminal cancer in her last year of life. She died the last week of 2006. I would go to her home and do whatever she needed me to do. I would get groceries, and cook her favorite stews according to HER directions, her way. I was so happy to be able to please her in any way I could. She may have been the most important person in my life for those years. I miss her so much. She told me that I had a near genius IQ before I even had a clue about my own intelligence. After she died, I checked and found that, sure enough, I was tested in seventh grade and found to be gifted. She told the people at Hospice that I was the daughter she never had. I only wish I could have had been able to do more for her. It was a pleasure and an honor to be in her life. She did pay me to go grocery shopping for her and always paid me for gas and my time, that last year. I went to family services and filled out paperwork for her, for senior citizen services offered in her county, wrote out checks for whatever bills she needed to be paid, did her dishes and cleaned up whatever area she would allow me to, around her bed, to keep her comfortable. Whatever I could do to make things easier or more accessible, I was willing and eager to do. I had so much empathy for her, and it would anger me so when she would tell me how people had taken advantage of her in her past.

I have so much compassion for the elderly. I would love to help other senior citizens have a better life in their latter years, just as I too, would want the same type of person to be caring towards me when I get older.

I love to hear life stories and would love to write a life's story book or poem, music, lyrics, a script idea or a film documentary. I love to learn from nature; plant, animal, human education, spiritual things and dream of starting a senior's chorus.

Profile Details:

• Female
• 58 years old
• 1 year of experience