FINALIST

Lizzie Sinkala

B'zoe Care,
​WA

Lizzie has an infectious smile and an upbeat "can do" attitude. She is a team player and anywhere she is staffed, the agency receives heartfelt reviews. She is a pre-Nursing Student in addition to working full-time, plus picking up extra shifts when she is able. We have staffed her with non-verbal Autistic children, challenging clients with behaviors who require above-average patience and compassion, Hospice clients through end of life, Companionship clients, clients with Dementia. She has canceled her own plans to cover emergency shifts – no questions asked. No matter how difficult the situation, she approaches it with grace, understanding, compassion and common sense. When first hired, she didn't drive. She got her driver's license and worked as many shifts as possible to afford a car. She never complains about the distance or a long commute. Her passion for caring for others is evident in everything she does.

​​She not only cares for the client but is a constant support to the family. On more than one occasion, Lizzie has stepped in to provide her expertise and special brand of care to clients in distress. She had a dementia client who was hospitalized after a minor and came home on hospice. The wife, adult children and grandchildren were struggling with understanding the gravity of the situation, as it all happened so fast. Lizzie spent numerous nights after working all day just to hold the client’s hand and comfort the wife and kids. ​She cared for the client providing him dignified care and screening the family from the not so pleasant parts of end of life so they could remember him for the outgoing, strong and charismatic man he had been. The family sent me texts daily praising Lizzie and thanking me for bringing her into their lives. Another Grandmother had custody of her twin nonverbal Autistic 4-year-olds and was just exhausted from their care. She received a Respite Grant for some care and no agency would help her out because they didn't have a caregiver willing to work with both girls at the same time. I took the client on and spoke with Lizzie. She agreed to the Respite shifts no questions asked. The grandmother was able to get some much-needed time for herself to go visit friends, attend a sewing group, get a haircut and go shopping. Basic things day to day tasks that we take for granted. It meant the world to her, and it left her revitalized and able to be a better guardian to her granddaughters. Just last week we got a call for a male Hospice client. When I arrived, it was evident he had very little time left. I was able to get Lizzie there within a couple hours and she stayed the night with the wife and daughter providing all Hospice and personal care. He passed away the following morning. His daughter said she didn't think they would have made it through the night without Lizzie. Lizzie being there allowed the wife to be a wife, say her goodbyes and mourn – she didn't have to be the caregiver.

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