Kelli Holmgren, Battle Creek, MI started as a Certified Nursing Assistant in 1993 after a few tries as a “factory rat”. She discovered she “can’t do the mundane things over and over and over. It’s just not me. I fit helping people.” She is now a “rehab home health aide” who can make it financially, with full-time hours. She enjoys time with her kids and bow-hunting.
Kelli prefers working one-on-one with people and their families, particularly those in hospice who are facing death. Families often express deep gratitude but she says they can also be the biggest challenge in home care work. “You get blamed, for anything. You can come in and say one thing that they didn’t want to hear and all of the stresses and all the pressure, they blow up and you’re the brunt of it. [One person] blew up on me, cursing and yelling, and as she’s cursing and yelling, she’s also telling me that it’s not about me but it’s like, okay… but it kinda is ‘cause I’m the one standing here.”
Kelli also finds the danger a challenge. “We’re in the home alone. We have no protection. A cell phone, that’s not gonna help me a whole lot, I mean if someone goes on the attack, what do I do? I can call 911, and hopefully they get there quickly before anything bad happens. I don’t think people understand how difficult it can be. I’m the only one there. I’ve gotta roll, turn that person, help that person stand up. And oh, my, lord, dogs! People always say ‘he doesn’t bite.’ Well, does he know he doesn’t bite? His hair’s standing up. He’s showing me his teeth.” Despite these drawbacks, Kelli says she can handle it because she has good problem-solving skills. “You have to have that and the ability to be a chameleon, fit in into any environment, any class of people, any religion, any physical need…or you will fail at this job. I can go into a home where they don’t know me and make them feel comfortable on the first visit.”