“My great-grandmother is one of the people I aspire to be like,” says our May Aide of the Month, Natasha Prefontaine. “Her name was Marjorie.”
Marjorie’s generosity and unfailing positivity have been a life-long inspiration for Natasha. “Everything she did, she always made sure to finish it,” says Natasha, of her great-grandmother. “She always put her best effort into it, whether it be cooking, whether it be work, whether it be family…Anything in life she did, she did it to the fullest. She was a very genuine person. And I want to be just like that.”
So, when Natasha was reminded that Marjorie had been a home health aide, Natasha was naturally inspired to follow in her footsteps. “I’ve had a lot of jobs in my past, but none of them were the right fit.” None of Natasha’s many jobs, from factory work to restaurant work, gave her the sense of fulfillment she was looking for. “Then, one day, I was talking to my mom about it and she said ‘Well, you should try to find a job in home care. Grandma loved it, I think you would love it too.’ So I went on Indeed and applied to CCOR and I got a call back.” Natasha’s enthusiastic reply to the CCOR job offer was, “Yes, I would love this!”
At CCOR, Natasha has finally found work she believes in and a career that suits her personality. Natasha genuinely cares about her clients’ well-being. She strives to strike the perfect balance between care and companionship. She’s also sensitive to her clients’ need for space and a feeling of independence. Natasha is a giver, and for the first time in her life, her work doesn’t feel like work. “This is something I want to do every day. It makes me happy.”
Natasha’s kindness not only makes her a perfect fit for home care but also a fountain of positivity for everyone in her life. “I’ve seen and been through a lot in life to know that you have to have a certain perspective. You never know what anyone’s going through in life; even just a smile could help that person’s day. And I try to keep an open mind about everything because there’s a lot of negativity in the world, but there’s also a lot of beautiful positivity. And I try to soak in all the positivity that I can. I try to help as much as I can.”
Like Marjorie, Natasha lives her life to the fullest. When she’s not working, she loves giving her time to her friends and family, especially her mother and her two nieces (and nephew on the way!). She loves reading, visiting nearby Letchworth State Park, and shooting pool with her family.
It’s clear that Natasha has succeeded in becoming just like Marjorie. “She strove to be the best person she could every day, and that’s all I can do too.” Natasha is always ready with a comforting smile and listening ear for those she loves. Years from now, it’s a good bet that her own nieces and nephew will want to be just like Natasha.
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