Anita’s Reassuring Steps

Why I love being a home health aide: “I've always been a people person; helping others makes my day.”

What is unique about my job: “It’s a great way to express my passion for helping people.”

Last spring, after 29 years of working in the insurance industry, Anita G. lost her job. Like so many Americans affected by the aftermath of the economic downturn, Anita viewed this temporary setback as an opportunity to pursue work in an entirely different field—one that reflected her own interests and passions. “When I was little, my grandmother had a stroke that left her paralyzed and unable to work,” said Anita. “The time I spent taking care of her has always stayed with me. That’s why I decided to become a home health aide.”

From helping her patients get dressed in the morning, to preparing their dinners at night, Anita G. has joyfully spent her first year as a home health aide providing assistance to elderly New Yorkers who are either injured or ill. “My job is to make other people as comfortable as possible,” beamed Anita. However, while there’s no question that she enjoys spending time with each and every one of her patients, when asked to recount her favorite memories from the past 12 months, there was only one name that came immediately to Anita’s mind: Reva G.

Reva G., a woman in her late 70s, had recently broken her ankle after slipping on a patch of ice outside her home. “Reva had become so afraid of walking, that she had effectively become a shut-in,” said Anita. So, for the next three months, Anita worked with Reva three times a week, for several hours a day. “At first, I would hold onto Reva very tightly and repeat, ‘I’m not going to let you fall,’ over and over again,” Anita recalled. “The key to success was earning Reva’s trust.” Over time, Anita did just that, and very slowly, Reva’s condition began to improve. Though Reva was still wearing a cast when their sessions ended, she was already confident enough in her newfound mobility to begin walking without any assistance from Anita. “Sometimes, you just have to let a patient heal at her own pace and be there for her, every step of the way,” Anita concluded.