Join us as we meet some of our amazing aged care workers.
Meet Jen, a Care Service Employee with our BaptistCare at home Central Coast team. She has proudly worked for BaptistCare for an incredible 26 years in both residential services and home care.
Jen’s love of working with seniors started when she was a hairdresser. She enjoyed working with her senior clients, listening to their stories, diving into their history, gleaning their wisdom, looking at their family photos and learning about their lives. It wasn’t long before she realised she wanted to work more closely with seniors. So, she joined BaptistCare and has never looked back!
Thriving in aged care
Jen’s foray into aged care began with BaptistCare Orana, working in the kitchen. She describes her experience of switching from hairdressing to aged care as “…a really big step for me, it’s a big unknown moving into a completely new industry.” But as with everything Jen does, she met the challenge head on with enthusiasm and energy.
After 11 years at Orana, Jen wanted to move into a role that provided more hands-on interaction with seniors. So, she made the switch to the At Home Central Coast team and has never regretted it!
Where you want to go
Jen loves every moment working in the home care team. As she puts it “BaptistCare can take you where you want to go”. And Jen is going places, using her passion and skills to serve clients across different home care services, including Refresh Retreats for people living with dementia and the Transitional Aged Care Program (Transpac), helping rehabilitate people after a hospital stay.
Jen says about her work -
“My job is amazing, and I love every day of it. I’m not just a carer; I’m a friend, an advocate…I’m the one blessed, and my job is the most rewarding way to get through life”.
Challenges are fun!
When she’s not at work, Jen loves a challenge; the bigger, the better! She’s completed the Oxfam Trail Walk, not once, but twice. She’s run several half-marathons, has achieved a personal best in weightlifting (an outstanding 135kg for a deadlift) and, just for fun, she helped her husband build their house. In the rare moments when Jen has spare time, you will find her tending her new garden, spending time with her family at the beach or setting up a swag for a weekend camping with her husband.
Jen’s tip for healthy ageing…
Jen’s number one tip for healthy ageing is -
“Don’t take life’s mishaps to heart. Things will go wrong in life but don’t see it as a failure. See it as an opportunity to learn, to grow, to speak up and use your voice.”
We love Jen’s enthusiastic approach to life – look for the challenge, give it a go and if it doesn’t work out, figure out what you learned and grow from it.
