As a home health aide at Perham Living Home Health Care, Cerilda Schaefer’s day revolves around providing compassionate care to clients while helping them maintain their independence.

For Cerilda, this job is not just about assisting with daily tasks—it’s about building personal connections with the people she serves. “A lot of times, you are like family to them,” she says.

Promoting Independence with Safety

For Cerilda’s clients, the ability to remain living at home is incredibly important. “Most people want to be at home,” she says. “They don’t want to have to go to assisted living or a nursing home. If we can help them stay in their home safely, then that’s our goal.”

Many of her clients are elderly, and preventing falls – particularly in the shower – is a significant focus. “That’s probably where most people fall,” she says. To lessen this risk, Cerilda ensures that clients have necessary aids like bath mats, shower chairs, and grab bars, and she uses a gait belt to offer extra support.

A Typical Day

Cerilda’s typical day involves visiting three to four clients once or twice a week. She offers support with activities like bathing, dressing, and light housekeeping, depending on the client’s needs. She helps with activities that might be difficult or even impossible for them to do on their own.

While physical care is essential, emotional support is also necessary. “I really like to build personal relationships,” Cerilda notes. Clients look forward to her visits, and she looks forward to seeing them. For some, she may be the only person they see that day.

Building Lasting Relationships

Cerilda has built long-term relationships with many of her clients. Some of them, like a 102-year-old woman, have been with Cerilda since she began working at Perham Living Home Health Care in 2022. “She’s a very sweet lady,” Cerilda says fondly, sharing that her client’s poor vision means Cerilda needs to be careful about putting everything back in its place after cleaning. When Cerilda had to take time off for personal reasons, her client checked in with her weekly. “She is a sweetheart,” says Cerilda.

Another client recently turned 100 and looks forward to Cerilda’s weekly visits. “She always asks if I want a cup of coffee,” Cerilda says. “She sent me a card when I took time off.”

These connections often extend to family members as well. “It’s not just the clients we see—their families too,” she adds.

What got her interested in being a CNA

“My grandma had some health issues, and I helped her. She suggested I go to school to be a nurse. I got my certified nursing assistant when I was 17 and started working at a nursing home. I just fell in love with working with the elderly,” explained Cerilda.

Challenges and Rewards

While Cerilda finds her work deeply rewarding, she acknowledges the challenges. Time constraints can sometimes be difficult. “Sometimes you feel rushed,” she admits, “you’re only allotted so much time.”

However, the emotional rewards far outweigh the challenges. “I feel like I am making a difference when I see my clients,” she says. “If I can lighten the load for them and their families a little, it just makes me feel like I have a purpose. I enjoy listening, and sometimes they want to talk.”

Cerilda spent most of her career as a CNA in nursing homes but has found that she really likes home health care. “It’s more personable because you are going into their homes. As much as they look forward to my visits, I look forward to seeing them,” she says.

Her Advice to Others Considering a Career in Home Health Care

“If you’re caring, compassionate, empathetic—I would say go for it!” she advises.

For Cerilda, working as a home health aide is more than just a job; it’s a calling that brings joy and a sense of purpose – the opportunity to help older adults maintain their independence for as long as possible.

About Perham Health 

Perham Health is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital with three primary care clinics, a 96-bed nursing home, home health care agency, adult day services, memory care assisted living, and senior housing.  The medical staff consists of 24 physicians, a nurse midwife, 14 advance practice clinicians, and three chiropractors. Visit perhamhealth.org to learn more.