{
  "id": 8943563,
  "title": "A job that changed me: I cried nearly every day working in aged care, then realised I could bring joy instead",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/a-job-that-changed-me-i-cried-nearly-every-day-working-in-aged-care",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-21T15:00:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian Australia",
    "slug": "the-guardian-australia",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/sep/22/a-job-that-changed-me-i-cried-nearly-every-day-at-the-aged-care-home"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In her 40s, the reporter found herself questioning her career path, having worked as an improv instructor, actor, and corporate facilitator. With the onset of Covid and the disappearance of people-facing roles, she took on temporary work through an agency. It was in an aged care residential home that she first encountered the challenges and joys of working with elderly residents. Initially overwhelmed by the residents' dementia and the emotional toll, she cried nearly every day for a month.\n\nAfter a few months, the agency sought her again for a permanent reception position, offering her a chance to change the residents' first impressions of her. On her first day, she felt nervous but practiced self-affirmations to cope with her sensitivity. The desk was located at the front entrance, where residents passed by daily. The residents, ranging from their mid-60s to late-90s, had various backgrounds and were affected differently by dementia, but most retained a sense of youthfulness.\n\nThroughout her three-year tenure, she formed close bonds with residents who shared their unique stories and experiences. One non-verbal resident would collaborate with her on tasks, while another resident would request she call her family, believing they were picking her up from a movie. She also connected with an artist resident who had transformed from painting to photography due to tremors. These interactions allowed her to draw upon her acting skills, repeating familiar scenarios to ease the residents' concerns.\n\nDuring the Covid lockdowns, she witnessed the staff's daunting appearance in personal protective equipment, but she focused on bringing joy to her role. She realized that her own fears of ageing and mortality were mirrored in the residents' eyes, leading her to appreciate her own life and the time she spent with loved ones. Her time at the residence taught her that every individual, regardless of age, matters and deserves respect and appreciation. Even those with dementia sought her comfort and remembered her presence, making it an honorable experience for her.",
  "summary": "I once asked a resident what she would do if she could do anything. She replied: ‘I’d run in a field’ In my 40s, I was beginning to wonder where I fit in the employment world. I had a variety of jobs including an improv instructor, actor and corporate facilitator, then Covid arrived and all those people-facing roles disappeared. Living in Sydney, with my kids at school and a mortgage to pay, I…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}