Care is often described as duty and routine. But in reality, it is emotional work. It is human work. Every day brings small moments that stay with you. Some make you smile. Some make you think. And some never leave your memory.
Great caregivers today do not merely rely on their experience. They have an ability to walk into a room and alter its entire aura. They have the gift to provide comfort, build trust, and guarantee a feeling of safety. They have the power to make others feel they are not isolated in their struggles. With all the tiredness, there are still some in the caregiving field who demonstrate heart. They ensure there is humor and warmth, even on tough days. Those caregivers are the ones who redefine the true meaning of compassion.
One of them is Stacie Freeman, a longtime caregiver at People Inc. in Western New York. Her approach is simple. Bring joy. Meet people where they are. Show warmth in every interaction.
During the first moments of caregiving, the first feeling that caught my attention was helping someone. It felt meaningful, and real, and I appreciated my contribution towards someone in need of support. I felt more and more support the more people I met, and the more I began to realize the impact of small acts of caring. Now, I appreciate the sense of trust and safety people give me, and the fact that they relax and drop the visible tension in their bodies as they gaze relieved towards me and stop to listen in order to create a space to enjoy those invaluable moments that make me realize I am in the right place to do the job I do.
What I appreciate most has to do with joy which is, in my experience, the most rewarding moment. I cherish the moments that I can make someone laugh, and drop even the tiniest smile, loose a little bit of tension and relax into a more positive state of mind. I know I did something important that can change everything, and it has great meaning to me. It is especially important to remember those moments on hard days to make it easier to get through them, and to give meaning to the little moments that I can lose to a day that felt heavy.
I reset by meditating. It keeps me calm. Even a few still minutes can impact my state of mind. Breathing has a positive effect on my ability to care for others. I am then able to show up for others with a full heart and a clear mind.
– Stacie Freeman, Caregiver, People Inc.
My best advice is to give people the opportunity to laugh. Joy is a missing element in so many places. It is nice to be nice, be soft, be playful, and be a little silly in the right moment. It is completely fine to tell a lot of silly jokes and get a sore throat. Some people classify it as crazy, but it is worth it as long as the other person is laughing. It adds to the trust account.
They turn caregiving into connection. They make the job feel like more than a task. They make it feel human.
There will be many opportunities for caregivers who have enthusiasm and love for their work. Care is becoming more human-centered and for that reason joy and connection will become as equally important as any technical skills.
I love the idea that more caregivers will be coming to work every day with enthusiasm and love for their jobs. That kind of energy can change someone’s whole day. It can change the entire caregiving experience.
Stacie Freeman is dedicated to assisting families and children with disabilities in feeling heard and supported. She allows them the space to just be themselves. In addition to her caregiving work, she harnesses her creativity into web design and digital art. She applies the same passion and warmth to these creative endeavors as she does to her caregiving work.
Stacie Freeman is a caregiver with People Inc. in Western New York, where she has spent more than six years supporting individuals with warmth, humor, and unwavering compassion. Her experience spans home care, disability support, and public health outreach, including serving as a contact tracer during COVID-19. Stacie’s approach centers on joy and emotional connection, reminding us that caregiving is as much about the heart as the hands.
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