She’s worked in aged care for more than 50 years – and now Jacinta Geraghty, Executive Manager of Carinity Aged Care, has shared her story as she wraps up a long and storied career.
Jacinta, who started working in aged care at just 17, said she had wanted to be a nurse for as long as she could remember.
“I always related very well to elderly people and had this burning urge to be a community (in-home care) nurse. We certainly didn’t have the resources we have today – we would bring a billy for hot water and had lunch under a tree – but it was a very rewarding experience,” she said.
After taking time out from her career to start a family, Jacinta returned to aged and community care, at one point even travelling to Malaysia to set up a home care program in Kuala Lumpur, before coming to work at Carinity.
She says her proudest achievement at Carinity was improving the organisation’s bottom line in 2009 not by cutting staff but by making sure it was getting all the Government funding it needed, including by upskilling workers.
“It was a lot of hard work, but it set the stage for the organisation we have become. At the time, we had seven aged care communities. By looking outside, the usual response of cutting staff and instead investing to create a more skilled workforce, we’ve grown to having 12 aged care communities across Queensland.
“I clearly didn’t do all that work myself – I had a great team of people around me to make it happen – but I do like to think the plans I put in place were a turning point for Carinity,” she said.
For those considering a career in aged care, Jacinta warns that it may not be a high-paying one – but says it can be very rewarding in other ways.
“The elderly are very appreciative of all that you do for them, and you become a very important part of their life. They show you a lot of love and that in itself is a great reward.
“There’s nothing better than to have that genuine ‘thank you’ and appreciation. Money can’t buy that,” she said.
Congratulations, Jacinta – and may you have a long and happy retirement.
