At Floow.ai we think it's important to make real stories from care visible. That's why we're starting a series of short interviews with people who work in care or have made the switch. What drives them? What surprises them? And what do they want to pass on to others?
We kick off with Mireille's story. After 30 years working as a pastry baker, she decided to take a new path and made the switch to care, where she now works as a host at De Zorgcirkel.
How did you end up in care?
“I worked as a pastry baker for 30 years, 24 of them for the same employer. I got a lot of satisfaction from making people happy with a beautiful cake. For me, every cake felt like creating a work of art: always striving for the best quality. But after such a long time I also knew: physically I won't keep this up until retirement. Back in home-economics school my direction was ‘Host, care and welfare’, and through volunteering with the Zonnebloem in Egmond I was a little familiar with care. When my neighbour across the street told me about a role as a host at De Zorgcirkel, I went to shadow for a day. It felt good! This was the place I wanted to continue.”
What tipped the balance for you to make the switch?
“I wanted work that is meaningful and where I can work with people. In the bakery I made customers happy with a beautiful product, but in care I can make people happy with my presence. That gives immediate satisfaction. It was also practical: my old work was too physically demanding, and this I can sustainably keep doing until retirement.”
How did you experience the process of onboarding and retraining?
“For a few days I followed a course with theory and practice. That was quite exciting: back to school, studying and taking exams after all those years. Luckily it went well and I earned my certificate. Working on the laptop took getting used to as well, but I'm learning that step by step too. And there are plenty of opportunities to keep developing.”
What exactly does the work as a host involve?
“As a host I mainly bring time and attention. I visit clients at home or in a care facility for company, a conversation or a cup of coffee. Sometimes we do the shopping together, play a game or take a walk. It can also be something small, like frying an egg together or putting flowers on the table. It's often precisely those small things that make a big difference in someone's day.”
What surprised you most once you started working in care?
“The change in pace. In the bakery I always worked at 200%, but in care it's all about calm and really listening. I had to learn that it's not about doing a lot in a short time, but about matching the wishes and pace of the client. That took getting used to, but was also very valuable. The emotional side surprised me too: working with people with (early-stage) dementia can be tough, but in the end you get back so much gratitude.”
What would you say to people doubting whether care is for them?
“Go and shadow in care! That's the best way to discover whether this work suits you. Take the time to see different places and roles. And don't be afraid that you can't do it: you learn everything in practice. I found taking the step incredibly hard at first and it took me years to make it, but now I have anything but regret. If you're willing to work with your heart, care is a good fit for you.”
We would like to warmly thank Mireille for her openness and inspiration. Her story shows how valuable a switch to care can be. For yourself and for the people you help along the way.
This is the first in a series of monthly interviews with care professionals. We look forward to sharing more stories that show what working in care can be like.