Shalee S. Care Companion in Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679

My name is Shalee and I'm 48 yrs old. My parents left me at 6 months of age and my grandmother took over, she was 56 yrs old and still teaching Jr. High school. Before she finally retired at 65 I would stay with my great-grandmother;her namesake I called Nanny. Nanny was my best friend growing up. Having no siblings I was always surrounded by the older generation thus being able to form a very unique kind of care and appreciation for them.

Historically, my family has very long longevity. Nanny finally went to a nursing home after she broke her hip where she stayed until she passed away at age 96. Her daughter my grandmother, spent so much time volunteering there that she was awarded Volunteer of the Year several years in a row, I as well spent many many hours there, including every Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I never called my grandmother grandma she was always Momma from the very start. We were two peas in a pod. My grandfather passed away in 1984, I tried for years to get mama to move in with my husband and I however she was very independent and insisted on keeping her house. One Thanksgiving she fell and dislocated her shoulder and it was then she finally decided she would come and live with me and let me take care of her.

I absolutely love having my mother when I woke up in the morning to have coffee with and tuck her in at night. However eventually she got very stubborn and wouldn't eat or take her pills when she was I asked her to and she ended up getting sick off and on. I found a wonderful home with Irvine Cottages where we spent many many days together until she took her last breath in my arms 2 days before she turned 98 years old.

I was the House Manager of a local Alcohol and Drug Rehab where I administered medication, monitored patients and drove them to various meetings in South Orange County.

January 2015 I was hired by a top agency for caregiver and child care positions. Before I received my first job, I was approached by a family privately needing care for their mother and father. Upon meeting the little couple I immediately accepted the job.