This month’s Lesson: Never stop raising the bar for your staff and encouraging them to be their best.
By Joan Lichauco, House Manager Sunnyvale
I never thought I would be a caregiver for seniors and especially did not think I would go to school to get certified for it. I expected that I would come to the States and get a job doing what I did back home in the Philippines, for which I already had a degree. But my boss, the owner of SCH, saw something in me and began to encourage me to get my caregiver’s certificate. In the beginning, I was not interested at all. I never thought I could do it.
But, in April 2019, because of her constant and positive encouragement, I got my caregiver’s certificate. And, she and I did not stop there. Then, because I was making such good progress, Lida set her sights on me becoming a House Manager. As you might imagine, being a Manager and also doing resident care is seriously very tiring–but also fulfilling. Again, through her constant encouragement, I began to see this as an opportunity to explore new things and enhance my knowledge and experience. With a lot of study, effort, and not-so-subtle reminders, I got my manager’s license in December 2021.
Working with Lida made me realize that age is just a number–I thought I was too old to go through all this. In my wildest dreams, I never thought I could accomplish everything I have in my three and a half years in the United States. Lida, my co-workers, my Sunrise Care Homes family, and my husband have been a great support system to me–without which I could have never done this. Thank you all so much.
