Meet Adam - a familiar face to many in New South Wales’ Murrumbidgee region.
Adam is a Care Worker for BaptistCare at home and has spent over ten years supporting local older people to stay connected to their community through BaptistCare’s social club activities.
Making a difference for local people
“I started out with BaptistCare as a volunteer bus driver, working just one day a week,” says Adam. “That was over ten years ago! I’m now an employed Care Worker, working full time.”
Adam says that his first role was ‘just’ a driving job, but it wasn’t long before he became involved in the caring side of things.
“I just started building these connections to our clients and I wanted to do more for them,” he explains.
“It’s the clients that have kept me here all these years – they are amazing.”
Making a difference for local people
As part of his role, Adam runs the local BaptistCare at home social club in Murrumbidgee, organising daily, engaging activities for BaptistCare at home clients.
“Social club gets people out of their homes and into the community,” says Adam. “I’ve witnessed for myself the difference that makes for older people. After a few weeks, you start to see the newfound confidence and happiness in their behaviour.
“It also makes a huge difference for the person’s carer at home – they can get a well-deserved rest while their loved one is with us.”
Adam also facilitates group day trips once or twice per week, usually picking up around 20 people and heading to a local beauty spot.
“It’s usually within a 100-kilometre radius of the social club,” Adam explains. “Our trips always involve a delicious lunch – and often with a view!”
“Last Friday, we took 26 ladies from our social club out for lunch,” says Adam. “We drove to a beautiful café about 100 kilometres away which has a ladies’ clothes shop attached to it. It was a great success – the group loved it!”
No stranger to adventure
Facilitating outings, activities, and adventures is something Adam has done most of this adult life.
Before BaptistCare, he worked as a tour guide, organising and leading hikes and bushwalks all over the world!
“It was my job but it’s also a lifetime passion which I continue to practice,” says Adam.
“Recently I've been lucky enough to hike Sapa in Vietnam and walk a 75 km section of the Great Wall of China as well as having older group adventures to Mt. Kinabalu, Mt. Kilimanjaro & Mt. Rinjani.” says Adam.
“I’ve even taken on the epic, 230-kilometre Portuguese Caminho, and have seen some of the world’s most amazing walks – including, of course, in our own backyard! I’ve spent many weeks hiking in Tasmania and Queensland, usually taking on 100-kilometre walks twice a year that take several weeks to complete.”
The best part of working in home care
“For me, it’s about getting to know the clients,” says Adam. “I love hearing their stories and learning about their achievements in life.”
“I learn so much from the clients – every day I learn something new from them.
“One thing I see in some of our clients is what it looks like to age well. It’s about eating healthily, staying active, and continuing to engage with your community.”
Adam says that staying socially connected is a lot easier these days for seniors.
“Take advantage of all the programmes out there to be engaged socially – you won’t regret it, he says.
