Sara’s story: Building bonds across generations
When Sara moved to Wellington with her family, she never expected that a simple Facebook post would lead her down a completely different career path. After years of working as a nurse, she was ready for a change. She wanted something that would let her stay present for her kids, but also contribute to her community in a meaningful way. That’s when she discovered RockPool.
“I had always thought I’d go back to nursing, but after having my kids, it didn’t feel like the right fit anymore,” Sara says. “I wanted something that allowed me to be there for my family but still feel like I was helping people. When I saw RockPool, I thought, ‘This is it. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for.’”
Sara’s journey with RockPool has been a chance for her to bring the caring side of nursing into a new space – one that’s about listening, connecting, and helping people live the lives they choose, without the stress of clinical work.
“I think what I love most about this job is that it’s all about people,” she explains. “It’s not just about helping with tasks – it’s about getting to know someone, hearing their stories and making sure they feel seen and valued.”
Sara’s approach is all about empowering her clients to feel in control, whether it’s through small gestures or big changes. One of her current clients, a gentleman in his 80s with end-stage Parkinson’s disease, is an example of this. He’s fiercely independent, despite the challenges his condition presents.
“He’s so sharp mentally, but his body just doesn’t cooperate anymore,” Sara says. “He loves telling stories about his life – about his career as an engineer and his travels – and I’m always learning something new from him.”
Sara brings this client’s stories to life by making sure he can still engage in the things he loves, despite his physical limitations. “He loves going to the café for a coffee, so we do that regularly,” she says. “We also head to Bunnings, and even though he can’t lift a screwdriver anymore, he enjoys teaching me how to do things he once loved. It’s about giving him a sense of accomplishment and keeping those pieces of his past alive.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of Sara’s work is the relationships she helps create – not just between herself and her clients, but between her clients and her family.
“I have a 7-year-old son who comes with me to visit my clients in the school holidays,” she says. “My kids don’t have grandparents nearby, so this connection is really special for us. My son loves listening to my client’s stories, and my client loves the random questions my son has. My kids have become invested in the work I do, too – they are always asking who I went to see today and what we did together.”