By Matthew Sims
Pakenham’s Cheryl Trimmings has supported elderly people across the South East for 15 years one of south-east Melbourne’s quiet achievers and continues to love helping her clients connect to the outside world and enjoy personal companionship.
Recently becoming a Kare ONE aged care case manager, she said her work as a home carer often went beyond cleaning and household management.
“The reality is that it is as much about human companionship and friendship,” Ms Trimmings said.
“Often, people will say “don’t worry about the cleaning today, come and have a cup of tea”.
“So, I say to them “go and put the kettle on” and I go and do the basics – what needs to be done in the way of cleaning – and then I sit and chat to the client.”
What started off as a part-time job quickly became a passion for her, describing her clients as like family.
“It’s very rewarding work,” Ms Trimmings said.
“You get to know people very closely, you might be the only person they see in a week.”
She said her work with older people has been rewarding and instructive and has also led to her completing Certificates III and IV in Aged Care.
“Some of the people I’ve worked with have had amazing lives,” Ms Trimmings said.
“They have been through so much and seen the world change in so many ways.
“Some clients may suffer from dementia and not be able to remember much about their current lives, but when you get them talking about their youth or growing or their jobs, they open up and come to life.”
She started work with care agency Kare ONE 15 years ago, with one of her original two clients still with her, after the other passed away just last year.
“The lady who passed away was an amazing woman who lived an amazing life,” Ms Trimmings said.
“She was vision impaired and so music was her outlet and she lived to sing.
“Sometimes, when I visited, she would play music and we’d dance.”
She said the pair quickly became friends.
“She had so much love and she was a people person like me,” Ms Trimmings said.
She and the woman developed an even closer relationship during the Covid pandemic.
“During COVID when her family couldn’t visit her, they would arrange for me to do extra shifts,” Ms Trimmings said.
“We just hit it off and developed a special relationship.
“Sometimes we would go for a drive, within the allowed five kilometres, and get fish and chips.”
She said the job was more than work.
“It’s more like visiting friends and helping them out,” Ms Trimmings said.
“Sometimes you meet challenging people, but my mission is to find out, through talking to them, what their problems are – and often they open up to you.
“If you take time, talk with them and gain their trust, the rest follows.”
She said she felt privileged to connect with people every day.
“People let you into their lives at a time when they are vulnerable,” Ms Trimmings said.
“I love my job every day.”
Pakenham-based Kare ONE has recently partnered with settlement agency AMES Australia.
