Employee Spotlight: Chara Upshaw
Hospice, McGregor Home
As a young girl, Chara Upshaw was told by her grandmother that she had a heart for the senior care industry. She followed that path, working toward getting her STNA license. When Chara finished school, she struggled to find a nursing job due to a lack of available positions. To get her foot in the door, she applied for a job in dietary services at McGregor, and when an STNA night shift opening later became available, she applied and got the job. That was 13 years ago.
Why has Chara stayed with one organization for so long?
Her answer is simple: McGregor is her family.
Chara, who has been part of McGregor’s hospice team for the last 7 years, has found her employer to consistently go above and beyond to provide for her not only as an employee but also as a person. When Chara and her family became sick with COVID-19, her team took care to provide everything they needed during that time. Throughout her career at McGregor, the organization has supported her personal growth and leadership skills. Chara notes that through her time working at McGregor, she has overcome her shyness and feels more comfortable serving as a mentor to help others on her team succeed.
Chara is an example of how being essential means so much more. We refer to staff like Chara, our behind the scenes hero!
Pursue a Meaningful Career in Senior Care
If you want a fulfilling career in the healthcare industry, do not overlook senior care. As Chara notes, the rewards are tenfold:
“To visit one of my residents and make them laugh, help them to enjoy the little things, it just warms my heart. To get a response from a total care patient that cannot speak, but they communicate through their eyes, or a hand gesture, you know that you’ve made a difference to this person.”
You can make a difference in the lives of seniors just as Chara does, whether you work as a nurse, a custodian, a food service provider, or another essential member of a senior care community.
It just goes to show you, one person CAN make all the difference!