Aria Porraz, Kalamazoo, MI, self-identifies as Hispanic and is an education major at Western Michigan University. She has been working as a DCW for 2 years to pay rent while in college, plans to work with children, loves animals, reading and yoga, and works full-time for a home care agency that provided training on specific […]
Heather Zielinski, Belmont, MI, a certified medical assistant who self identifies as Cherokee, loves to read and learn about history and other cultures, and feels working with people who are dying is a privilege. She has been “screamed at, spit at, sworn at, swung at, stuck with a needle, worked with a convicted pedophile, and […]
Sue Fierro, Lansing, MI, has been in home care for over 20 years. She entered the field because it seemed like a good fit with her desire to help people and it didn’t require a college degree. Her first experiences were frightening because she was sent to homes without sufficient training to care for clients […]
Shelia Wedell, Escanaba, MI bubbles with life. She raises doves, is active in church with bible study and teaching Sunday school, has taken up gardening, and loves time with her grandkids. She is a self-described people person, confident, entrepreneurial, and boisterous. She got into DCW work at age 10 when she started a “pooper scooper” […]
Vernette Mahone, Detroit, MI, graduated from high school while raising two children and went on to become a certified Computer Technician. During this time her mother became ill and Vernette was determined to take care of her, but it was hard as a teen mom working and attending school. She has done PCA work ever […]
Maria Cosper, Lansing, MI helps care for her 87-year old father-in-law who has lived for 8 years with her and her husband. He still drives and is fairly independent. She also helps her husband’s mother and step-father who live next door. Her mother-in-law has Alzheimer’s disease and needs 24-hour care. In addition, she and her […]
Diane Wine, Portage, MI, is 71 years old and enjoys life, pastel colors, Mackinaw Island Fudge ice cream and time with her grandchildren. Her 9-year-old granddaughter says, “Grandma makes me laugh.” She started out as a hospital candy striper then worked for 25 years at the hospital as a DCW in different departments including the […]
Damien Sheppard, Lansing, MI. Age 37, Damien has a degree in biochemistry, works as a lab manager in a plant biology lab, is an avid bicyclist, gardener and reader. He values the relationship with his clients, the flexibility that allows him to work around his lab job, and feeling that he is contributing to society […]
Mellisa Bobnock, Iron River, MI., Certified Nursing Assistant, enjoys being at home with family and gardening. She has been a home care worker with the same agency for 16 years. She got into it because she wanted to help people, enjoyed working with older adults, and discovered she loved the one-on-one care and relationships that […]
Martha and Hellen Kwant, Lansing, MI. Mother and daughter are both home care workers. Martha, a retired social worker, says, “Momma taught us from being knee high to boll weevils that we take care of the elderly…You have a warmth that very often turns into love for them, and you’re going to want the best […]
