Doing the Little Things has Big Impact

By Lori Van Ingen
Lancaster Newspapers
June 22, 2009

Nancy Pawling loves interacting with seniors at Landis Homes Retirement Community, something she has done for more than 35 years.

For her work as a certified nursing assistant and personal care attendant at the retirement community, Pawling has received the PANPHA Caregiver of the Year in Nursing award.

She shares the honor with Sheila Hill-Crosson, a restorative aide at The 58th Street Presbyterian Home in Philadelphia.

PANPHA, an association of nonprofit senior services, is the state's largest trade association, representing more than 350 nonprofit private, fraternal, religious and government-sponsored providers of housing and health-related service options to Pennsylvania's elderly.

When she began her career, Pawling wasn't necessarily looking for something long-term.

"My husband, Ron, was a teacher and he had a summer job normally. When he went back for his master's, he decided to take (the courses he needed) over the summer," said Pawling, of Lititz.

So she sent Landis Homes a letter inquiring about a job in an effort to help make ends meet.

"In a nursing job, you can usually find some spot," she said. "I said I'd find a summer job, but it became a long-term job. I enjoyed it very much."

Pawling began working as a CNA at Landis Homes in 1974. It was before training standards were required, so she learned "on the job" how to respond to a broad spectrum of residents' needs, she said.

Pawling, 66, has worked at Landis Homes in many levels over the past 35 years, but much of her work has been in the assisted living and health care setting.

"Health care has changed since I started," Pawling said. "We're taking into consideration the interests of the resident and their schedule more today than we did then.

"Those who come into a health care (facility) have lost their independence, so they have to deal with that loss. We, as caregivers, have a need for a schedule, too, but we take (a resident's) schedule more into consideration today than we did then. To me, that feels very good. I think that's the way it should be."

Although Pawling retired in 2007, she still works 10 to 12 hours a week in Landis Homes' new home health services program, "Landis at Home."

As a personal care attendant, Pawling assists independent living residents with such things as taking medication, bathing, combing hair and laundry, she said.

"They are still able to live independently, but need a little assistance to do daily living activities," Pawling said.

The number of people Pawling assists each day varies, but it can be as many as 10 people in a morning, she said.

Sometimes it's only five-minute visits with a person, but other times she can be with a person for several hours -- transporting them to a doctor's appointment or taking them out shopping, to lunch or just for a drive.

"One 93-year-old man had me out driving to find a (specific) farm. He takes me all over Lancaster County, usually in the Strasburg-Willow Street area, which I'm not that familiar with," Pawling said.

Another adventure found Pawling going with another man for a plane ride.

"As a caregiver, Nancy is considerate, gentle and kind. She is a hard worker and a creative problem solver. When providing care, she is able to see the 'little things' that make a client feel special," Faith Hoover, director of home and community services at Landis Homes, said in her letter of recommendation.

Hoover gave the example of one resident who was going to a special event, and when Pawling did his laundry, she ironed his clothing even though it was not requested because she wanted him to look his best.

"Serving aging adults in Christ-like love has always been important to me," Pawling said. "Hopefully, I make their day brighter. Many don't have close friends and family, so we're their family. They look to us for that, so I hope my time spent with them makes their day a little brighter."

E-mail: lvaningen@lnpnews.com

© Lancaster Newspapers 2009

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