Sharon Watford started at the Berkshire County Arc 20 years ago. But she remembers clearly why she made the move.
“I worked at a nursing home where I had to worry about 30 people sometimes, just me and them,” she said. “Here we have four staff for eight individuals.”
Sharon works with BCArc’s co-op apartments, where 14 individuals live in single and double units, where almost all the individuals work during the day, or attend programs and activities.
“I’m here when they return to help them with cooking, cleaning, take them to their doctor’s appointments, and anything else they may need,” she said. “I also take them to a movie, a play, or out to eat.”
Most of the individuals take care of themselves, and have all the traits you’d expect, she said, offering an example. “While the men may cook and do laundry themselves, they prefer we food shop without them. That sounds pretty familiar to most of us,” she joked.
The ultimate goal, she explained, is to get them ready to move out and live on their own. The individuals work in places like Blue Q, Kelly’s Package Store, CVS, Home Depot, and more.
“The best part of the job is the happiness they bring with them when they return from their day,” she said. “Like all of us, they like to come home. They will always make you laugh with their sense of humor and big hearts.”
One particular individual came home in extra high spirits recently, flashing to Sharon something in his hand. Sharon explained that it was a tab from a can for the daughter of the co-op director, who was collecting them for a school project.
“While the men may cook and do laundry themselves, they prefer we food shop without them. That sounds pretty familiar to most of us.”
“One of the best things about this job is the education my four daughters received around people with disabilities,” she said. “At first when I started here after the nursing home, they were a bit weary of the people here. So was my husband.” But in a short time, she said, they grew comfortable, enjoyed spending time with everyone, and became advocates of people with disabilities. Three of the four daughters worked for BCArc for a time before moving on to different careers.
From Nursing Home to BCArc
While working at the nursing home 20 years ago, a friend told Sharon about working at BCArc. She immediately picked up part-time hours as a cook when the regular cook was out, and as a housekeeper, until something opened full time for her. She hasn’t looked back once.
“I recommend people in the field look into the job openings at BCArc. If you like to take care of people, this is the place.”
