%20Luxe-Taylor%201.webp)
Savrina has dedicated her life to caring for others. She began her career as a cleaner in a nursing home 38 years ago, but it was a registered nurse who saw something very special in Savrina - often seeing her helping residents with small things. “They said they saw special qualities in me and soon after, I began my training as an assistant in nursing,” explained Savrina.
“I have been with SummitCare for 24 years and have learnt so much. I love working at SummitCare Penrith as the residents truly feel at home and the home has such a wonderful feel about it.”
Over the years, Savrina worked in different roles, such as Assistant in Nursing, Physio Aide, Quality Coordinator - assisting with training and orientation, and Accommodation Services Manager. “I am thankful to have had wonderful bosses who have supported me throughout my career,” said Savrina with a heartfelt smile.
She then went into medication management before moving to Magnolia, the dementia ward, as Team Leader. Here, Savrina says she ‘fell in love’ and found her true passion providing the best possible care for residents with dementia. “For me, the most important thing is to take the time to listen to residents and get to know what their needs are - and build a relationship with them. If you say you’re going to be there at a certain time, make sure you’re there,” Savrina says with passion.
In Magnolia, Savrina is more than a carer. "I’m the mother, I’m the sister, I’m the aunt. I’m helping the residents look for something that’s not there. I see they’re struggling and I give them comfort - it’s very rewarding,” she said, warmly. “I have a saying I tell the nurses - remember that when you get to work, you are going into someone's home, and from this will come dignity, empathy, care, and respect.”
“I tell the nurses to read the residents' background and learn who they were as a person. Everyone has a story. The person standing in front of you, once upon a time - she was you!” Savrina said with conviction. She also reminds her team that the family, the sons and daughters, are the ones who can help make the job easier - because there is so much they can tell you about their mum or dad.
As Team Leader, Savrina believes in the importance of teamwork. "My role is to support the team to ensure everything runs smoothly and be there for any questions. I always take new staff under my wing and will assist the RN if they need any help, say with a new admission. My goal is to promote teamwork, support staff and make sure my team is comfortable and happy - as we work in an area that can be stressful at times,” she said.
Dementia has been an interest of Savrina’s, so she attended university in her own time to study the effects of dementia on the brain. “When I go visit my mum in Mauritius, I spend a week teaching people in the village where I grew up about Alzheimer's disease - as a family member was diagnosed with it. Each time I visit, more people want to see me to understand how best to support their loved one. This is my way of giving back to my community.”
One of Savrina’s most memorable experiences was with a German resident who had suffered a stroke. "He had limited mobility, but we worked with the physio and went from not being able to move to getting him walking. I started a little group called the Stroke Club, where residents shared their stories and did exercises. Some went from sitting to standing, then to walking. A family member even shared my story with the local paper. That was my proudest moment."
“For me, the biggest challenge in my role is getting to know a resident but then they deteriorate and pass away - and then we welcome a new resident before we’ve had the chance to grieve,” Savrina said sadly, but she added, “One thing that is rewarding is learning a lot about history - I’ve heard stories about fighting in wars and living through the Great Depression that I would not have known otherwise.”
Savrina has loved caring for residents, being their voice and advocate. “I’m already recruiting many of my friends to come and work in aged care. I tell them to do their research and look at the history of the home - I’ve been with SummitCare for 24 years; it’s a wonderful company.”
