By PAIGE HACHET JACOB
She was the right person for the right job at just the right time. As a nursing student at North Carolina State University, Lyndsey Sharp was part of CareYaya, a service that pairs health care students with senior citizens needing in-home care. Her quick thinking and training kicked into superhero mode when she saved 80-year-old Julie Brewer’s life.
For Sharp, one of the most critical details of her role as a health service provider is to offer compassionate care and build real connections. Patients often need companionship and someone to “sit and talk to them about their day, and redirect them sometimes [when] they get confused or unsure where their family is,” she says.
“Sometimes, they simply need help with little things like what to do next—like making lunch or taking the dogs out.” These seemingly small tasks make a big difference in the patients’ lives—especially for Brewer, whom Sharp affectionately calls “Miss Julie.”
A Quick Response
Sharp began her shift one day with Brewer like any other—on a routine walk in Brewer’s neighborhood golf community. Shortly into their walk, Brewer felt dizzy and faint and asked to sit down, but then decided she wanted to keep going. Sharp observed Brewer’s shortness of breath, talked her into sitting down to take a break, and then flagged down a nearby golfer in a golf cart who gave them a ride back to the house.
After giving Brewer some water and a banana to eat, Sharp called Julia Brewer, Julie Brewer’s daughter, who is a nurse anesthetist at WakeMed. Julia came immediately and took Brewer to the emergency department. “It was lifesaving,” says Julia. “Lyndsey didn’t panic. She quickly got help, and called me right away. I couldn’t be more thankful to Lyndsey for doing all that.”
The trip to the hospital led to the discovery of a blockage, and surgery to implant a stent. Later that year, Brewer’s birthday celebration was even more special than usual when the pair reunited to celebrate over cake and Brewer’s favorite treat—Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
This is not the only time Sharp’s health care skills have come through in an emergency. While on duty with another patient, Sharp was once again instrumental in preventing injury. Her patient used a walker due to balance issues. Near the end of their session, Sharp assisted him in walking to the bathroom. As she reached from behind him to turn on the light, he started to fall away from her. Like a baseball player diving to catch a line drive, Sharp swooped down and caught his head before it hit the glass shower door.
An “Everyday Hero” Kind of Life
These days, Brewer enjoys relaxing on her back porch or going for walks with her caregivers. Sharp now has a position with WakeMed and is awaiting acceptance into a program to become a physician’s assistant. They recently ran into each other again at a local restaurant and enjoyed an impromptu mini-reunion.
Sharp values the experience she earned through her work with CareYaya, which, by employing medical students, is providing a solution to a massive care gap for families who need special care for a loved one. She explains how the platform is a win-win for patients and caregivers.
“I wanted to get direct patient care hours, so [it was great] when I found CareYaya because I could manage it with my school by picking up hours when they were available,” she says. Along with her position at WakeMed, Sharp remains involved with CareYaya as an ambassador, conducting patient and student outreach.
For many senior citizens, the affordable, high-quality caregiving service that students like Sharp provide is the lifeline they need to age in place with dignity. Julia Brewer emphasizes the significance of this type of one-on-one care and describes how the medical students are truly vested in their patients’ well-being.
She discusses, for example, how students often bring a little project—such as a craft—to work on with their clients. “It’s so important when someone in this situation has engagement like that, and is not just sitting on the couch staring and watching TV,” she says.
Sharp believes this model, where students are genuinely interested in the patients’ well-being, holds promise for the future of health care.
Innovative Caregiving
Caregiving is a significant public health issue affecting the quality of life for millions. Caregivers provide assistance with activities necessary for daily living, such as bathing, dressing and transportation.
> According to the CDC, the need for caregivers is not just growing; it’s skyrocketing. The current ratio stands at seven potential family caregivers per older adult. However, by 2030, this ratio is estimated to decrease to only four potential family caregivers per older adult, highlighting the urgent need.
> According to data collected by the CDC from 2015–2017, one in three caregivers provided 20 or more hours per week of care, and over half have provided care or assistance for 24 months or more.
> 10.4% of caregivers reported providing care or assistance to friends or family members with dementia or other cognitive impairment disorders.
> Affordable options like CareYaya can help older or disabled adults access the care they need. Resources that utilize student caregivers and other creative approaches to affordable caregiving will become increasingly valuable moving forward.
Check out more stories from around the Triangle at midtownmag.com.
