Companion Kerrie Hughes, from Tallington Lakes near Stamford, is the second Stamford Mercury Citizen of the Week for her dedication to caring for an elderly client during the coronavirus pandemic
A woman who discovered her vocation in later life is our second Citizen of the Week.
Kerrie Hughes ditched her job in publishing to become a care worker and never looked back.
She now works as a companion on behalf of Age Care Advice and has been dedicating her time to looking after an elderly woman in Newark since the coronavirus lockdown began.
Kerrie, 55, said: “It has been absolutely brilliant because there is so much time to get to know the person you’re caring for.
“It’s better for them too because they really get to trust us and know we won’t let them down.”
Kerrie normally cares for six clients but since the lockdown was introduced, she and her colleagues are only caring for one client each to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
“It has been absolutely brilliant because there is so much time to get to know the person you’re caring for."
She is taking turns with a colleague to provide 24/7 care.
Kerrie was nominated for our Citizen of the Week award, which is sponsored by Peterborough Regional College, by several friends for her compassion and dedication to the job, but is a reluctant hero.
Kerrie said: “I’m not doing anything outstanding - I’m just doing my job.
“But you have to love what you do - you can’t just view this as a job. We fall in love with the clients and they become like family.”
Meet our first Citizen of the Week
Kerrie, who lives at Tallington Lakes, previously served in the Army and worked as a conference manager for an academic publishing group.
She trained with Bluebird Care seven years ago thinking becoming a carer would be “a nice easy job”.
She was surprised by the amount of training involved but soon realised it was her dream job.
She said: “You really make a difference to people’s lives. I think I missed my vocation and wish I had done it years ago.
“It’s really rewarding to come home and know you’ve done a good job.”
Former co-worker Alexandra Jackson was among those to nominate Kerrie for the award.
She said: “She works so hard to provide care to the most vulnerable in the community and always put other people’s needs before her own.
“These are the last years of someone’s life and Kerrie always makes them amazing.”
Jessica McDill added: “This pandemic is hitting many people hard but Kerrie is staying strong to deliver vital care. She is a hero.”
Anna Jackson said: “She takes no credit and asks for nothing.”
Kerrie will receive a £25 gift voucher as her prize for winning Citizen of the Week.
Click here to nominate your Citizen of the Week
