A MUM-of-two from Corby described as a guardian angel – has been crowned as a national CAREGiver of the Year.
Kind and compassionate Amanda Campbell devoted five years to caring for a client with advanced motor neurone disease, helping to bring them quality of life despite the debilitating muscle wasting condition.
Sadly her client, who described Amanda as her true guardian angel, passed away days after her devoted carer received the award at the prestigious ceremony.
Amanda was honoured with the national award after judges were moved by her remarkable care story. They heard how Amanda, through her own tenacious spirit, has supported clients with complex care needs to lead active lives and stay connected to society.
It was Amanda’s care motto that caught the ear of the judge’s too – with the right planning and equipment on behalf of her clients she says: “We can do anything, we can go anywhere.”
Humbled to be crowned Home Instead Senior Care’s national CAREGiver of the Year, she said: “I’ve never done this work to win awards but it is an honour to be recognised. Being a caregiver is my calling in life, I have to do this work and make a difference to people’s quality of life.”
Amanda found her true vocation later in life herself. As a single mum she worked in retail for 30 years to provide for her sons, proudly sending them both to university.
Having worked for Boots in a variety of roles from the photo shop to the opticians, it wasn’t until she left the job to care for her Aunt Sheila after a cancer diagnosis that she discovered what she was meant to do.
“Once I’d understood the difference being a caregiver makes, I knew I could never go back to working in retail, a job I’d done ever since I left school at 16,” said Amanda, aged 56. “From that point, I knew in my heart of hearts that I just had to devote my life to working in care and to being there for people.”
A brand new career in care beckoned for the mum-of-two, who began working with national homecare provider Home Instead Senior Care at its East Northants office, based in Wellingborough, in December 2011.
Amanda’s whole-hearted passion for care, and this unique story, spoke out in volumes to Home Instead Senior Care’s judging panel, with the audience moved to tears as she received the top accolade at a glittering ceremony in Liverpool.
With her client of five years having sadly passed away, Amanda’s caring spirit continues, as she now looks after a new gentleman and a lady, both of whom have complex care needs.
Mark Darnell, Director at Home Instead Senior Care East Northants, added: “We are honoured to have a National CAREGiver of the Year as part of our team. Amanda epitomises the dignified quality of care that we believe in. Care that comes from the heart, care that makes a genuine difference to people’s lives.”
Mark Darnell Director of Home Instead Senior Care East Northants with Amanda Campbell (centre) and Rosie Darnell, Director of Home Instead Senior Care East Northants.