This story is based on an interview with Jake Benoit, 26, of Durham, North Carolina, who is studying for a master’s in nursing. It has been edited for length and clarity.
My mom is an occupational therapist, and I spent a lot of time as a kid, age 11 or 12, going to her outpatient clinic after school.
I didn’t know it at the time, but her devotion to her clients was to have a lasting impact on me. She would help people with hand mobility issues complete daily tasks such as brushing their teeth, dressing, and cooking.
She got them back up and running, and they’d tell me, “Your mom changed my life.” The pride Mom took in her work planted the seeds in me to enter the caregiving profession.
Fourteen years later, I’m in a master’s program in nursing at Duke University. And one of the ways I support myself is working for an agency, Careyaya, which employs young volunteers and students like me.
I describe it as a Lyft for families who need eldercare. They go onto the platform, apply for their preferred number of hours of companionship, and are matched with a background-checked carer.
It’s an intergenerational win-win
I’m paid between $18 and $26 an hour, but the role means so much more to me than a salary. It’s allowed me to find meaningful relationships with older adults whom it’s a privilege to know.
One of my first clients was John, an ophthalmologist who retired at 94 two years before I met him in the spring of 2024. He was extremely curious, open, and willing to share his wisdom and experience.
He wanted to talk to me about his life and my life. You could call it an intergenerational win-win, and, despite the age difference, I considered him one of my best friends.
I’m not a religious man, but I’d drive him to church on Sunday, and we’d often get something to eat later.
He had mild dementia, but the conversations we had afterward about the sermon were incredibly nuanced. They were a constant source of inspiration.
We’d play a lot of card games together, like Uno, and chat for hours in between. John had minor agitation sometimes because of his condition. However, Careyaya trains you how to divert people’s attention and help them return to a baseline of contentment. Going on Spotify, asking about their favorite music, and playing it are good techniques.
Although he was ambulatory, I would often help him walk to the restroom. I’d make him a snack and organize his pill containers.
My clients mean the world to me
It was nice to know that he enjoyed my company. When he died, his daughter sent me the longest, heartfelt email that made me cry.
I’ve gone on to care for other clients who mean the world to me. There’s an accomplished 85-year-old author who has traveled the world. She has moderate mobility issues, and my job includes keeping her legs elevated and making sure she uses her compression device.
We sit and watch old movies like “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “Roman Holiday, ” and “Lawrence of Arabia.” It’s wonderful to hear her interpretation of the film.
I want to become a nurse practitioner
I also care for an 86-year-old former US ambassador to the Middle East who faithfully wrote his memoirs. We’ll read through the pages, and I’ll ask questions and clarifying points.
You can see how, as the conversation progresses, it becomes easier for him to sustain longer trains of thought, and his memory sharpens.
Working with older adults like them is a huge reason I eventually want to become a nurse practitioner. I’ve come to love the feeling of knowing someone is grateful for my impact on them as much as I am for theirs on me.
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