A mother of two has been recognised for her work caring for elderly people in their homes across Caerphilly.
Tracy Davies, 45, was presented with the silver award in the Promoting Fulfilled Lives category at the Wales Care Awards in Cardiff.
She said: “I felt so honoured just to get through to the finals and would have been thrilled with a bronze award. To win silver was a very proud moment.”
Tracy, from Tonyrefail, was nominated by colleagues at Home Instead Senior Care in Taff’s Well, who described her as a role model.
Day-to-day duties include helping elderly people live independently by lending a hand with shopping, cleaning, and cooking food, as well as stepping in to support families when a relative passes away.
She travels around in her Ford Fiesta ‘mobile office’ looking after clients in Caerphilly.
“Some need help with their personal care so making sure that is done with dignity and respect is really important”, Tracey added. “I try to see the ‘person’ and get to know my clients as individuals.”
“I suppose I am a natural carer, it comes easy to me so working for Home Instead is something I really enjoy.”
Tracy has previously taken up lace-making with a client and currently reads the newspaper with a 98 year-old who is in the early stages of dementia.
She said: “I try to see the person and get to know my clients as individuals. One lady had been a keen dancer so we put her favourite music on and have a little dance round the front room to Shakin’ Stevens. Another of my ladies looked forward to fish and chips on a Friday. She had been in the WI and liked to lay the table with her best cloth and fish knives.
“It’s a long day on your own and little things like this gives them something to look forward to.”
Away from work, Tracy regularly makes a long trip to Devon to ensure the wellbeing of her 95 year-old nan.
Home Instead Operations Director, Stephanie Davies, said: “Tracy embodies the ideal care giver that I would place with any family member. Her work is constantly exceptional.
“She has received several ‘Team Member of the Month’ awards and is always thinking of ways to improve the service we provide, even little things.
“Once she called to say one of her ladies’ dishwashers was taking a while to fill during our visits and the dishes were just sitting there. Now everyone hand-washes the dishes when they visit.
“She goes the extra mile and we get comments from clients like ‘Tracy is made of diamonds and gold.’ Having her out there, constantly thinking about how we can provide the highest quality service possible is invaluable. It’s this thoughtfulness that made her so deserving of an award.”
The annual Wales Care Awards awards are now in their 15th year and showcase the best practice across a vital sector.
Winners were announced at City Hall in Cardiff on Friday, November 17 at a presentation evening hosted by tenor and BBC Radio Wales presenter, Wynne Evans.
Mario Kreft, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said the standard of entries was extremely high.
He added: “There are only winners here tonight so it is only fitting that the finalists will receive a gold, silver or bronze Wales Care Award.
“I trust that they will continue to inspire those around them as role models and encourage others to aspire to even greater heights in the months and years to come.
“This awards ceremony is our opportunity to pay tribute and to celebrate the talent and commitment that is improving the quality of life for thousands and thousands of people throughout Wales.
“We take our hats off to them.”