National Health Care Aide Day

Care Behind the Care

So apparently, today, October 18, is National Health Care Aide Day.
And, surprise! I’m one.

Not the kind you picture rushing from house to house with a clipboard and sensible shoes (though, honestly, my shoes are pretty sensible). I’m part of an agency, yes — but my one and only “client” is my fiancé, who has Parkinson’s. So technically, I’m both the employee and the live-in support staff.

No commute. No gas mileage. No awkward small talk with strangers.
Just a lot of patience, humor, and the occasional “Did you take your meds?” kind of mystery-solving.

Here’s the funny part: the agency doesn’t actually know I was labeled disabled myself. Everything — from hiring to training — was done online. No in-person anything. No one ever saw me beyond my perfectly capable typing fingers. It’s like I passed a secret level in the game of caregiving.

But maybe that’s part of the bigger picture. You’d be amazed how many caregivers are doing this work while managing their own health stuff in the background. It doesn’t make us less capable — it just means we’ve mastered multitasking on a whole different level.

What most people don’t realize is how much skill it takes to make daily life look normal.  cooking separate meals, cleaning, tracking meds, calming shaky moments, keeping spirits up — it’s like being a nurse, coach, chef, and motivational speaker rolled into one (without the union benefits).

So, to my fellow aides — whether you drive miles between clients or your commute is just the hallway — here’s to you. We do the small, invisible things that keep the world running a little smoother, one cup of tea (or in my case, goat milk) and one “you’ve got this” at a time.

Now if you’ll excuse me, my shift just started again… and the cat wants attention.

🩺 Written by a home care aide who moonlights as a writer and full-time human.