Those who make their living caring for elderly people have never had it easy, often doing backbreaking work for low wages.
The pandemic made the job even more arduous because now it’s laced with fear.
“It's very challenging and it's very scary because you never know when you are going to get the virus,” said Leah Farinas, a caregiver at Villa Lorena, an assisted living community in San Diego.
Farina has been at the job for more than a year. She said she views her work more as a mission than a job.
“You have to have the passion and heart because we're dealing with residents who have some memory issues and they tend to be repetitive,” Farinas said. “When you see the residents as old as your parents, it’s like taking good care of them is like taking good care of your family, especially for me. I’m away from my parents.”
The 33-year-old Farinas is married and has a four-year-old son. Her mother-in-law also lives with her.
In COVID-19 times, she has wondered whether her caregiving career is worth the risk of contracting the virus and possibly transmitting it to her family.
“I think it's very tough because there is so much anxiety, so much stress,” Farinas said. “Sometimes you just say to yourself, ‘What if I don’t go to work?’ You know I’d be safer at home. But then you know you have to do your job.”
She has learned how to calm herself over the past 11 months.
“I just take a deep breath before I go to work and hope and pray that we are safe, that residents are safe,” Farinas said.
And she said she has to be especially strong now for residents who have been barred from receiving visitors inside the facility for nearly a year.
“Sometimes when I go into a resident’s room, they will just cry,” she said. “Simply cry. And I will ask, `Why are you crying?’ And they will just say, ‘I miss my family so much.’”
Farinas said she tries to offer residents hope by telling them that the virus will be eradicated soon and the pandemic will be over.
She said she is very happy everyone will be vaccinated soon.
“I hope it works,” she added.
