There is so much variety in the life of a Day Brightener. I spoke to Janet to find out about the different clients she looks after, the kind of work she does and why she feels privileged to do it.
What made you become a Day Brightener?
I worked in a secondary school for ten years, but I was ready for a change, and I wanted to find something that was much more flexible. About 2.5 years ago, I heard about companionship work and thought it would be perfect and give me the flexibility I wanted.
I work 3 days a week and look after 9 clients. My Mondays and Fridays are free, which gives me the option to visit my 90-year-old dad in the North-East, for a long weekend. He’s still very independent, but I like to see him as often as I can and support him with everyday jobs. This just would not have been possible with my old job.
What’s a typical day like for you?
What I do each day can be very different, but I always know who I’ll be visiting. I start my preparation the evening before, by checking my diary and having a think about who I’m going to see. If one of my clients has a hospital appointment, it might mean that I need to ring another client to let them know that I’ll be half an hour later than their normal time. I also ring my clients that I do supermarket shopping for, to get their shopping lists. Then I put everything in my car that I might need – Shoes for gardening, shoes for walking, board games, sticky labels and marker pens etc!
On a Thursday, I usually leave the house at about 8:30am and head straight to the supermarket for my first client – a lady in her 90s. I have her shopping list from the night before, but I ring her when I get there to see if there is anything she has forgotten. I drop the shopping at her house, and she likes to put it away herself. We have a quick chat; I check she’s OK and I leave.
Then I head to my next client, who is a lady with MS, who uses a wheelchair. I never know what she would like to do until I arrive, so I make sure I’m prepared! She is a member of the Zoo, so sometimes we’ll go there and wander around for an hour or so. Sometimes we potter in the garden and chat. Sometimes she arranges for her online shop to be delivered while I’m there, so I take it in and put it away for her. I do anything that I spot needs doing, such as putting the washing away that her carer has hung out to dry. There are so many little things that are so easy for me to do, that this lady would find quite difficult. Sometimes we just go for a walk, look at the wild flowers and chat about our families.
Then I have about an hour for a break. I might park up and read while I eat my packed lunch. Or I might do some supermarket shopping for myself, or even meet a friend for coffee.
Next, I head to another lady who is in her 90s and almost blind. Her doctor has suggested that she doesn’t venture too far from home, so she is usually happy to stay there, and we might potter in her garden together. She struggles to see what’s in her cupboards, so we’ve been working together to find a system to help her find things easily. At the moment we’re trying neon labels on different baskets, which seems to be working well. She has meal deliveries, so each time I visit we go through her freezer together and check in the catalogue what she might like to order next. I write the list in large writing (which she can see with a magnifying glass) so it’s ready for when they ring for her next order. I’ve also been helping her with her household paperwork – getting her bills filed and sorting/shredding old paperwork that has built up over time.
Then it’s back to the supermarket for another shop for a lady with Cerebral Palsy who uses a wheelchair. She spends most of her day at a specialist centre, so I always see her at the end of the day. I take her shopping in and put it away for her. Sometimes I change her bedding. We always have a good chat and I help her with her diary planning for the week. I help her at the hairdressers on a Saturday sometimes too. I’ve found a salon with no steps, where her wheelchair can go right up to the sinks. I help support her and the chair, while she has her hair washed. And we have a good chat while she has her hair coloured and styled!
Then I head home – I’m usually back by about 6pm.
What happens when it’s time to leave your clients?
I have one lady who likes me to fill her coffee machine before I go – I like her priorities!
Most of my clients like to know when I’ll be back again. We usually look at the dairy or calendar together and I make sure I note exactly when I’ll be visiting again. If they have an appointment coming up, I’ll write down the exact time I will be picking them up. (For clients with memory problems, I’ll also ring a couple of times to remind them of the appointment.)
Most of the time, my clients are quite buoyant when I leave, having had a good time. If I ever have any concerns, I’ll give them a quick ring to check they are happy once I’ve got home.
How do you feel about your work as a Day Brightener?
I get a real sense that I am appreciated – something I didn’t feel very often in my last job.
I’m surprised how many people there are who have no-one they can rely on for support and friendship, so I feel that everything I’m doing is valuable and appreciated.
My clients have become my friends. They have led such interesting lives, and I feel lucky to have the opportunity to learn about their history and to hear their stories. Some of them have had very difficult lives and still face each day with determination and a smile on their faces. I respect and admire them greatly, and they certainly have a lot to teach us about life. I feel absolutely privileged to support them.
If you’d like to find out more about how to become a Day Brightener… why not watch my free 1 hour Day Brightener training. You’ll get valuable hints and tips to help and I’ll walk you through my FAB-Senior programme, explaining how it can help to save you time and money when setting up your Companionship Service.
Sarah x
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