January 12, 2023
Lydia has worked in long-term care since high school and continues to share her passion of helping individuals as the assistant director of home care services at Home Care Services of Boone County Hospital.
How did you get started in the long-term care profession?
When I was in high school, I worked as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in a local nursing home. I loved working with the older generation, as I have always been very close with my grandparents. I decided that I wanted to become a nurse and worked in both the nursing home and hospital as an aide while I went to school.
What do you like most about working in long-term care?
The thing I like most about working in home care is that we help individuals with their independence so they can stay at home for as long as possible. I love that we have time to get to know each patient on a personal level and that each of them has different goals and potential barriers to work through to achieve success.
What would you tell others to encourage them to consider a career in long-term care?
I think home care is truly a very rewarding career! There is a satisfaction in working with our patients to attain their desired independence, and no situation is exactly the same. At home care we have the pleasure of working with, and referring to, local resources as well, so you really get to know your community!
What lessons have you learned working in long-term care that also help outside of work?
I think that home care has given me a lot more insight to the problems people experience living alone, and it has allowed me to be more involved with providing solutions to our community. We see a lot of the social determinants of health that impact our patients, so I try to keep those things in mind when we create patient goals.
When you’re not at work, what do you enjoy doing?
When I am not at work, I love spending time with family! Myself, my 9-year-old daughter and my husband like being outdoors and ride dirt-bikes, hunt, fish and take our dogs (Hurley – a pit bull and Mavis – a French bulldog) anywhere we can! My dad still lives on the farm I grew up on, so we enjoy helping him with those chores too! In the summer, we go all over the USA to watch my nephews (ages 11 and 6) race motocross!
What is your favorite quote and why?
I actually have two favorite quotes that I refer to pretty often. One is, “You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you can’t choose both,” by Brene Brown, and “So far you have survived 100% of the days you never thought you’d get through,” by an unknown author. I like the first quote because I am a huge Brene Brown fan, and this reminds me that the big leaps of faith we take often bring us farther than the choice of staying “comfortable.” The second quote I remember coming across when I was in high school, and it has stuck with me through basically every difficult journey I’ve encountered since then! Regardless of how big or small the mountain we climb is, it’s important to remember that we have a 100% success rate of reaching the point we are currently at! I like to look at situations with those odds.
More about the Member Spotlight
Recognize your best employees! Select an employee to complete this form and return it to communications@iowahealthcare.org. Photos of the selected employee are also encouraged, but not required. The photo release form can be found here.
We will feature the Member Spotlights in the Weekly Bulletin, the IHCA Facebook page and the IHCA website.