Blog

Congratulations to Our Employee of the Month, Elise Baldwin, Caregiver

February 22, 2023

Bio

My name is Elise Baldwin, but my friends know me as Elise XX because I have too many last names! I was born in Wisconsin and moved to the west coast with my two siblings when I was 6 years old. I have three other siblings that are triplets who came a good 18 years after I was born. My family is my biggest influence! If I didn’t come from a family that accomplished great things in their lifetime, it wouldn’t be possible for me to do the same ❤. My grandparents and great grandparents fought in multiple wars and have overcome so many obstacles, that leaves me with nothing but good examples! My favorite things to do on my time off are going to shows or nice restaurants with my friends, especially Italian restaurants. I think I’ve been to every Italian restaurant in SoCal!
 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A CAREGIVER?

I started caregiving in 2016 and have been loving it ever since!
 

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO BECOME AN CAREGIVER?

The career sort of fell upon me when I was in college working with kids with autism, it naturally progressed to CNA work. My mom was a CNA at 18 as well. Her grandfather passed laws in her home state that allowed the study of medicine when it was very discriminatory at the time. My family is my biggest motivation!
 

WHAT ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ARE YOU MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT?

My favorite part of the job is learning new things from people, and the fact that each and every day is different. 😊


HOW ARE YOU MAKING MORE POSSIBLE FOR YOUR BRIGHTSTAR CLIENTS?

I do more whenever I can and try to make clients feel comfortable. I don’t want them to feel burdened for asking me to help, I do it because I have a passion to help.  
 

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER CAREGIVERS?

Ask your client what they want from you before you start your shift, so you don’t waste time and they know what to expect out of you for the day!
 

TELL US YOUR FAVORITE CAREGIVING MOMENT/STORY

One of the most memorable work environments I’ve ever worked in was a Catholic hospital. I definitely expected to experience more anxiety being in such a strict environment, but it was the complete opposite. My client was an older Italian man who loves Italian history, one of my favorite topics, and it was something we talked about most of our time together which is memorable to me!
 

HOW DO YOU RE-ENERGIZE?

To boost my energy naturally when I need to re-energize, I try to control my stress by lightening my load, prioritizing the important things, and delegating the insignificant duties. I use caffeine to my advantage, and I eat regularly to gain energy. Throughout the entire day and night, I try to drink as much water as possible.
 

A FEW WORDS ABOUT ELISE FROM AN APPRECIATIVE CLIENT:

From Elise’s client Chris W. 😊:   "Elise is punctual, competent, and professional, but many caregivers fit that bill – what sets Elise apart is her positive, can-do attitude, and amiable personality – and when you see someone almost every day, in the sanctity of your home, amongst your family and friends, those intangibles make all the difference in the world. Thank you Elise!"
 

A FEW WORDS ABOUT ELISE FROM THE BRIGHTSTAR OFFICE STAFF:

"Elise is always requested by our clients and always willing to pick up shifts when she can. We love and appreciate all her hard work and positive attitude! She has been an incredible assist to our team thus far and we want to see her continue to thrive in the passionate work she does, notably working with our awesome veterans!"

 
ELISE WILL BE A WEST COAST CANDIDATE FOR CAREGIVER OF THE YEAR. ONE EMPLOYEE WILL BE SELECTED FROM EACH REGION TO BECOME A BRIGHT STAR NATIONAL FINALIST. PLEASE SEE VIDEOS OF THE 2022 FINALISTS…(and grab a tissue!).

Link to video playlist.