Hi there, my name is Claire. I am a born and raised Vancouver Islander living and working in beautiful Victoria BC. I am passionate about the wellness of not only myself, but the people, animals and nature that make up our community.
It is with great enthusiasm that I continue to respond to my calling as a personal caregiver. Before my current role as a caregiver to the elderly, my background in spa therapy involved treating clients from all ages and walks of life. Today, I am seeking a part time position working with children to compliment and bring energetic balance to my work for seniors with dementia. From the years 2010 to 2015, I was a part time nanny for two children aged four and seven. Over my five years with them I had the pleasure of watching them learn and grow as I grew myself. Our favourite activities were walks in nature, arts & crafts, and playing games in the backyard using our imaginations. Several years have passed since I was a nanny, and I truly miss the lens of magic and curiosity through which children see our everyday life.
My approach to caregiving is holistic, with an appreciation for how proper nutrition and lifestyle habits effect our mental health and development, especially as young people. I have a cell phone, but do not partake in social media like Instagram or tiktok and prefer to keep screen time to a minimum (but I can't say I am not a Winnie the Pooh and Disney fanatic). My caregiving style for children includes the encouragement of reading, writing, creating, and exploring; with no shortage of opportunity to do so in our incredible city.
The past six years of my career in the spa industry required me to tune into the individual needs of each of my clients. With a warm, engaged demeanor I build a sense of trust and safety, and carry out my services with special attention to my client's comfort and preferences. Apart from the transferrable interpersonal skills I acquired as a spa therapist, I have had the opportunity to put my skills in other genres to use for the enrichment of my companion's lives. I am passionate about creating nourishing and gut healing meals, engaging in physical activity amongst nature, and maintaining a clean, functional, and comfortable living space.
To me, the most important part of my role as a caregiver is to hold space for my people as an active listener, making them feel heard and validated without judgement. I strive to create a sense of safety and acceptance in my presence allowing those I care for to be their true selves around me. I am confident that my experience and love for this work makes me highly suitable for the role.
Previous to my current role as an elder caregiver I was a spa therapist. In addition to experience providing geriatric foot & nail care, skin care, and other general grooming treatments, I had personal experience caring for the elderly. Raised by a registered nurse who is now an end of life doula, I was prepared to take my experience caring for the elderly and disabled to the next level as a personal companion and caregiver. Due to the pandemic and the resulting lack of work in my previous industry, it was with newfound clarity and eagerness that I deepened the meaning of my work beyond appointment care.
Additional Experiences/Qualifications:
Emergency First Aid and CPR trained
