North Devon Nursing Home Shares Carer Life Story

To those who haven’t worked in social care before, it may not always be understood that daily life within a care home is often centred around human connection, trust and helping people continue living meaningful lives, rather than being solely focused on clinical support or personal care.

Social care offers a wide range of career opportunities, from Carers and Care Practitioners to Domestics, Maintenance Team Members, Nurses, Chefs, Cooks, House Leads, Administrators and Home Managers.

It is a sector where people often discover new interests, develop new skills and grow into different roles over time. For many, it is a career path they never fully understood until they experienced it for themselves.

For Carole, who joined the team at Edenmore Nursing Home almost seven years ago, what began as a role as a Carer soon became an opportunity to pursue her passion for creating a warm, welcoming home for the people who live there.

Carole’s Earlier Life

Carole was born near Versailles in the 1960s before spending her childhood on a family farm in Normandy, where her parents were farmers.

After studying languages in the 1980s, she moved to England in her twenties and began working as a personal assistant for an engineering company in Hammersmith, a role she held for ten years. It was during this time that she met her future husband, Mike.

Together they built a life in England, later marrying and welcoming two children, Eliza and Philip. More than thirty years on, they are still together.

When her children were still young, Carole took a leap of faith and retrained as a special needs teaching assistant. The role took her to California and Vietnam, while Mike’s career also saw the family relocate several times, giving them the opportunity to experience life in different parts of the world.

 

Joining the Edenmore team

When the family moved back to England, Carole knew she wanted to do something different. She was looking for a role where she could put down roots within the local community while making a positive difference to people’s lives.

Reflecting on that time, she said, ‘I was looking for a permanent role where I could stay within the local community and make a positive difference to people’s lives. I have always enjoyed caring for children, but I also became aware of the many older people in my neighbourhood living alone and often feeling isolated.’

While searching online, Carole came across a Care Assistant vacancy at Edenmore Nursing Home, just fifteen minutes from her home. After a lovely conversation with the Home Manager, she decided to apply and was delighted to be offered the role.

Carole quickly discovered that working in care is both incredibly rewarding and, at times, emotional. She explained, ‘As a people person, I love building relationships with the family members (residents) and their relatives. To me, a nursing home feels like one large family, with everyone working together, supporting and caring for one another.’

As she settled into life at Edenmore, one part of the role stood out more than anything else.

 

From Carer to Homemaker

At Edenmore, one member of the care team takes on the homemaker role each day. Homemaking includes everything from setting the tables and preparing meals to creating an environment that feels warm, welcoming and like home. It also means supporting people during mealtimes and paying attention to the small details that help everyday life continue.

These quickly became Carole’s favourite shifts, and she would often volunteer to take them on.

She said, ‘I grew up on a farm in France, where I learned to cook from a young age. Feeding people has always been something I love to do.’

Over time, Carole naturally found herself homemaking on most of her shifts.

‘It didn’t feel like a change in my role necessarily. It’s simply where I feel most comfortable and the type of work that comes most naturally to me. Since I have been doing this, I have never looked back.’

For Carole, homemaking is woven throughout the day, from the moment she arrives until she heads home. No two days are exactly the same, but the focus is always on creating an environment where people feel relaxed, comfortable and truly at home.

 

A Day in Carole’s Shoes

Carole likes to start early, arriving at Edenmore by 7am. It is quiet at that time, which gives her time to gather her thoughts and prepare for the day ahead.  Before handover, at 7:30am, she gets things ready.

She explained, ‘I prepare the lounges, so they feel warm and welcoming, check the kitchen, organise supplies, and then attend handover meeting with carers and nurses.  By 8:30am, my household’s kitchenette is cleaned, organised and ready for the day to begin.’

One of her favourite parts of the day is welcoming everyone in the morning, greeting family members with a smile, and will often give them a big hug if they would like one.

‘I quickly learn everyone’s routine, favourite food and fluid, dietary needs, and preferences.’

She spends time chatting, offering reassurance, reading together with family members, painting their nails, listening to music, and sitting with those who just enjoy quiet company.

She said, ‘Every day is a different day, but my aim is always the same; to make everyone feel comfortable, loved, cared for, and at home.’

 

Creating Connections

For Carole, the most rewarding part of her day is being with and helping family members.

She said, ‘It warms me when I come in and someone says, “She’s here today!”  Sometimes, simply holding my hand and saying a kind “Thank you” for supporting them means more that words can express.  I work three shifts a week, and it is always lovely to see the family members again.’

Over time, Carole has built such strong relationships that some family members even affectionately call her by different nicknames!

‘A very special bond I share is with one of the family members who used to be a French teacher, Jillian.  Every morning I see her, we greet each other with a few sentences in French.  It has become our secret language. It is lovely to see her smile and laugh every time we do this, and it makes my day.  It is a simple event but reminds me how small connections can make a difference.’

She has also developed a close bond with another family member, Ann, who is diabetic.

‘She likes to sit close to me so that I can support and encourage her.  Ann is anxious so being close allows us to easily chat throughout the day.  Over time we have developed an unspoken understanding and friendship.  I can often tell when she needs something without her having to ask.  I think by having this quiet trust is very special and rewarding for both of us.’

When leaving the home at the end of the day, Carole has a special routine she follows. ‘At the end of each shift at 7pm, I don’t say goodbye.  The reason for this is because it can upset some of the family members.  Instead, I simply say, “My friends, I am tired now and I need a rest.  I will see you in the morning.  Keep well.”

Exceptionally fond of her team, she considers everyone at Edenmore Nursing Home her second family. Known for her hospitality, Carole makes sure visitors always get a drink or something to eat. She also ensures her teammates never skip lunch, playfully warning to put their names on the food and fluid charts if they do!

 

A Collector of Aprons

Although team members at Edenmore Nursing Home are not required to wear uniforms, Carole is instantly recognisable in her colourful kitchen aprons with their large pockets, a fitting reflection of her homemaker role.

Aprons have become something of a passion. At one point she counted around 27, but today she laughs that she has lost track.

She said, ‘The number of aprons I now have, from having received so many as gifts from my family, friends and even distant relatives, has become uncountable. I change my apron each shift and everyone, including the team, like to see what I am wearing on any one particular day.’

Carole’s apron collection started in her childhood. Her mum always wore an apron, and she bought Carole her first one, with polka dots, when she was just nine years old. Carole didn’t like getting her clothes dirty, and the habit of wearing an apron stuck with her.

Carole’s love for aprons is just one of the many ways she brings a piece of her heritage to Edenmore. Through her food, stories, and warm presence, Carole continues to share her culture with the family members.

On her future at Edenmore, she shared, ‘I am looking forward to staying in my current role and doing something that I love to do every shift, making a difference within the lives of our family members.’

To read more about the home’s activities, events, and people living at Edenmore – News & Blogs – Edenmore Nursing Home – North Devon Nursing Home