Alexis's Family Ties

Why I love being a home health aide: “This job enriches my life in so many ways.”

What I’ve learned: “Comforting clients is the most important part of what I do.”

Alexis F. has been a home health aide with Partners in Care since July 12, 2008. “It’s easy for me to remember the exact day I started at Partners in Care because that’s also my grandmother’s birthday,” said Alexis. “Actually,” she added, “my grandparents are the reason I became a home health aide in the first place.”

Unable to care for her grandparents while they were living in the Caribbean, Alexis, who was living in the U.S. and working as a cosmetologist at the time, decided to transition into a career that would allow her to care for the elderly. Becoming a home health aide was Alexis’s way of giving the love and support to other families that she could not provide to her own grandparents. Ultimately, she’s glad she made the switch.

“This job has enriched my life in so many ways. It gives me a different perspective on everything,” said Alexis. Not only has Alexis become adept at helping her clients with everyday physical tasks, such as getting dressed and bathing, but she’s also learned different ways of easing their emotional strain. A smile, a song, a manicure (Alexis was a cosmetologist, after all)—these are the small touches that can provide solace during a period of apprehension and discomfort. “I think of my clients as family,” Alexis said. “That’s probably why so many of them have come to regard me as their daughter.”

When she’s not with her clients, Alexis is either at the gym, traveling abroad or watching TV with her kids. Additionally, as if that schedule didn’t seem hectic enough, Alexis is also a part-time nursing student working on the next transition in her career. Once she is certified, Alexis will be able to continue serving the elderly population as a licensed practical nurse.