Senior caregiver
Samantha Borbone is a senior caregiver and owner of Bee Helpful, which provides non-medical in-home services to seniors in the greater Hampstead area.
Explain your job and what it entails.
As a business owner, I put myself in charge of most tasks and determine what tasks to outsource, like payroll taxes. As a caregiver, I assist seniors who are living in their own home to have the best quality of life that they can. I do this through cooking, cleaning, problem-solving, picking up prescriptions and food, helping with their phones, hanging up pictures or whatever else makes them happy.
How long have you had this job?
I’ve been a business owner for almost three years. I guess I’ve been a caregiver almost all my life, either caring for grandparents, my children, my own aging parents, seniors I volunteer to help and caring for myself.
What led you to this career field and your current job?
Growing up, both of my parents were entrepreneurs, and still are. With their help and a lot of luck, I graduated from Merrimack College with a B.A. in Business. I am a hands-on learner, so sitting in a classroom will never be my best friend. … Later in life, I worked and volunteered in different places, and I found helping people is what I wanted to do for a career. … By volunteering at Community Caregivers of Greater Derry, assisting seniors in their homes, I decided to focus my passion and business skills on helping local senior citizens.
What kind of education or training did you need?
As a business owner, I really just needed to work out in the world and gain confidence and resilience. My business degree is helpful, but it focuses mostly on big business, corporations. I only have one class in small business basics. On the caregiver side, I don’t think you can actually train someone to be a caregiver. I mean, I certainly train the staff in infection control, food safety and proper hand washing, but as a caregiver, you either are or you aren’t. It takes patience and compassion and an open mind to care for family, but especially to care for strangers.
What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?
If working from home, I’m wearing comfy workout clothes. When I work directly with clients, I love my black scrubs with all kinds of pockets, paired with a black logo tee.
How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?
I was scheduled to open April 1, 2020. That did not happen. So I had to do something different. I became an errand service for seniors. I primarily did grocery shopping for clients that first year. I was very lucky that my husband’s job was not affected by the pandemic.
What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?
I wish I knew I wanted to help people for a living. I would’ve gone to school for health and human services.
What was the first job you ever had?
Working for my dad at his warehouse company, helping him unload one-ton bags of talc from train cars. I would climb on top of the bags. He would come at me with the forklift, and I would pick up the four straps attached to the bags and put them on the forks.
What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?
Caregiving isn’t about what you hoped to do; it was about understanding what the other person needed. The best business advice, I got from my dad. He said, ‘Never hire family, and read Dale Carnegie’s books.’
Five favorites
Favorite book: The Art of Happiness by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler M.D.
Favorite movie: National Lampoon’s Vacation
Favorite music: Right now, I love Glass Animals, Bruno Mars and anything happy I know the words to.
Favorite food: Does coffee count? If not, then chocolate.
Favorite thing about NH: The friends I have here, and the mountains, especially Mt. Cardigan.
Featured photo: Samantha Borbone. Courtesy photo.
