Home care aides who have the ability to work with clients of many different backgrounds are some of the most sought-after talent in the healthcare industry. For UniversaCare aide Mrs. Kanwaljit Kaur, this is an effortless undertaking, as her story in New York has been one that transcends most people’s comfort zones.
Born and raised in the state of Punjab in north India, Mrs. Kaur moved to New York at the age of 18. She resides in Richmond Hill, Queens with her family, but works all over the city. She still visits extended family and in-laws in India whenever she gets a chance, which usually comes in the context of a wedding or a special occasion. Wanting to instill cultural values in her children, these trips are precious opportunities to help them grow and learn about their history.
Where does it come from?
The desire to work as a home care aide came about when Mrs. Kaur’s son and daughter became more independent and she could devote time to her own interests. When looking at different options, she wanted to prioritize flexible hours and the ability to make her own schedule. Because of her wealth of experience as an immigrant, she entered the field with confidence in her own ability.
“I’m not afraid of the unknown,” she said. “There are aides who get prematurely worried that they won’t be able to converse with a client who only speaks English, or that they won’t get along with someone who is from a different generation and doesn’t look like them. I tell them that you won’t really know the client until you meet them on a personal level.”
Mrs. Kaur’s no-excuses attitude toward her work is inspiring, as she knows that her elderly clients often depend on her for essential daily routines. She drives herself to work all around New York, prides herself on her punctuality, and is happy to travel even if the scope of work is only a couple of hours.
“When it snows in the city, I’m not able to drive,” said Mrs. Kaur. “But I have no problem spending $5-10 on an Uber to get to my client. People who are fortunate enough to be in a position that they earn enough should not be stingy about petty cash – it won’t make any difference in the grand scheme of things.”
For anyone who is considering a career as a home care aide, Mrs. Kaur encourages an open mind and a willingness to put the client’s needs at the forefront. When working with the elderly, there can be logistical challenges that one might not anticipate when entering this line of work.
“If there is something a client needs that is not in their house, I tell them that I will bring it from mine,” she said. “Don’t treat medical patients like patients – that won’t get you anywhere. Even if an older client says something out of anger, don’t take it personally. Very rarely will they not apologize later.” Through her work, Mrs. Kaur is happy to have expanded her knowledge of other cultures, including ones she was not exposed to in India.
Where does it come from?
“I remember when I was working at a different agency, they assigned me to an orthodox Jewish family,” she said. “They showed me how in their home, they do not combine meat and dairy. There are restrictions around handling silverware, and there are rules about using electricity and cooking on Saturdays. It was enlightening.”
When it comes to a guiding philosophy in her day-to-day work, Mrs. Kaur prefers to keep it simple, as she is confident in her ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
“I treat clients like they are my own parents. I keep an open line of communication with them at all times, and always encourage them to tell me if something is wrong or if I could be doing something differently. I know I’m doing something right if they are smiling when I come to the house and are still smiling when I leave.”
