Gladys and Margaret never to old to work

Jul 16 2010 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

THEY may be older, but they are definitely wiser.

And that’s why Independent Living Services, based in Prestwick, employ plenty of pensioners like Gladys McMillan and Margaret Fullerton.

ILS provides care at home services across South Ayrshire.

The service is provided on contract back to local authorities to support older people at home, as well as people of all ages challenged by disabilities and other issues which make it hard for them to cope with life alone.

Several of the carers employed by ILS are aged well over 60.

They include 68-year-old Gladys and Margaret, aged 69.

Gladys explained: “When my husband took ill, we had a domiciliary care company call in to help us for a year-and-a-half.

“I had experienced care at home and realised what a difference it could make. I worked at Ailsa Hospital in Ayr for 19 years as a nursing assistant, so I already had experience working with people.

“There is great job satisfaction – I care for men and women, working a part-time shift.

“Two of my clients are in their nineties. It’s really great when someone appreciates what you do for them – all my clients say thank you. We might go out shopping together to get the weekly supplies.

“ILS provide ongoing training and development support to all of us.”

And Margaret also gets plenty of enjoyment from her job.

The Ayr mum-of-one works out of the ILS Prestwick office in south Ayrshire.

After she retired from a catering job at Ayr Races, a pressing need for an income drove her back to work.

Margaret had experience of caring for her father during his illness in the months up until his death.

Apart from her career in catering, she had also been a legal cashier for 8 years, and she has first aid skills. Most of the people she cares for are younger – for example one client is a young person with learning difficulties, where she does a sleep over as this person needs constant care.

Margaret said: “I get a great deal of satisfaction from helping people – and a feeling that what I can do for them is useful – much more so than in any other job I have ever had.”

And ILS are always keen to hear from people like Gladys and Margaret.

Edmund McKay, regional manager for ILS, said: “Our care at home teams come from all backgrounds and previous careers.

“Gladys and Margaret are part of a growing number of older employees who are great at caring for people in our teams.

“We have an ongoing recruitment programme being a growing business and we are constantly looking to recruit new care staff across our nine offices in Scotland.”