Zabiba’s role as an Assistant in Nursing is one she loves deeply. For Zabiba, it's about bringing joy, comfort, and dignity to the people she cares for. "I really enjoy helping people," she says with a warm smile. “If I can make them happy, it makes me happy.”
Her day revolves around helping residents with a range of personal care needs, as well as tidying up their rooms, helping at meal times, and spending time talking with them. “If it’s time for a shower, I always show the residents respect by asking first if they are happy to have one now or later,” she says. “It’s important that they know it’s their choice.”
Before this, Zabiba spent five years at SummitCare as a cleaner. It was a friend who suggested she take on this role, and she’s never looked back. “Now I encourage other friends to get into aged care,” she said proudly.
Zabiba’s warmth has earned her the affection of both residents and their families. “I’ve had families come and say, ‘thank you for your help,’ and residents tell me they’ve missed me if I’ve been off for a few days. It’s special,” she adds with a smile.
But her role isn't without its challenges. Working with residents who have dementia can be difficult. Zabiba remembers the early days when she struggled with the unpredictable nature of the disease. "At first, I was nervous. Some residents would get upset and push me away," she admits.
With ongoing training and experience, Zabiba has grown confident. "Now I understand how best to deal with these situations. You have to talk very softly with them and give them time to calm down. You may offer to bring them a coffee or something to eat and their attitude changes, they become happy. You just have to be patient."
When describing the qualities you need in this role, Zabiba explains you need patience, compassion, and kindness. “You need to show the residents that you care and are there to help them. The most important thing is to give them time. You have to remember that they had a full life before coming into care. This is now their home.”
What Zabiba enjoys most is talking to the residents. “They are all so different. I love hearing their life stories and the things they have done throughout their life. It’s one of the reasons I love what I do.”
“The hardest part of my role is when residents pass away. We get very close to them, and it’s heartbreaking when they go because you become attached to them over the time you've cared for them.”
Zabiba shares a light moment she had with one resident. "He said over and over that he didn’t want his food, and kept pushing it away. But as soon as I went to take it, he changed his mind. ‘OK, I’ll eat it,’ he said. It made me laugh because I knew how much he loved his meals.”
When it comes to her colleagues, Zabiba speaks very highly of them. “The staff here are really lovely to work with, very friendly and always happy to see me,” she said, then added. “If there is a new person starting, I do what I can to make them feel welcome and show them how we do things.”
Her advice to others thinking of working in aged care? “It’s one of the best jobs, and the residents feel like family. Yes, it can be hard, but it’s so rewarding. For me, my mind is free when I come to work. I enjoy helping people, which makes me happy, and I feel at peace.”
