Erika

Erika's reason for caring for older adults is personal. Her own mother is in her seventies and lives in Mexico, far from the life Erika has built in California, and caring for someone else's parent is how she stays close to that feeling of family. As she puts it, the people she looks after feel like her own mom. Over more than twenty years, that sense of responsibility has carried her through a steady career in private homes and residential care. Erika leads with patience, the quality she is known for and values most in herself. With clients living with dementia, she follows their lead and looks for what they need in the moment, whether that is a short walk outside or simply some company, always keeping them safe without taking away their freedom. She likes to fill the day with small pleasures too, playing cards, working on puzzles, or sharing music and a good movie. More than anything, she wants the people she cares for to feel looked after the way she would want for her own family.