Christina Divine’s trip to Cancún, Mexico, next month will come with some shiny, new hardware. In addition to spending time soaking up the sun, she will be recognized on the stage as Caring Senior Service’s Caregiver of the Year for 2023 at the company’s annual conference.
“I’m glad they noticed that I did my job really well and I never thought I would be a caregiver of the year at all,” Divine told McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse. “It makes me feel really appreciated that I got recognized as a hard worker because I care for my patients. It gives me joy to see what [patients] like doing at their house, that gives me the most joy to see them happy and get to see their kids and grandkids coming in and out of the house.”
The recognition is a fitting reward for a home care veteran who started with Caring Senior Service as a nonmedical home care provider in 1997 before returning in 2015. Divine has been employed at three Caring Senior Service locations during her career, including Caring Senior Service Phoenix and Caring Senior Service Kerrville, Texas, before coming to Brazoria County in 2015.
Her nominators, Mike and Adie Walls, noted how she was always willing to go the extra mile for her clients; from cooking four course meals to preparing their hair and makeup. Currently, she provides nonmedical care for one client on the verge of turning 103. In late 2023, Divine also received the educational requirements to become a GreatCare® Master Caregiver. Like many in the field, her illustrious career began with a chance introduction to the industry through a personal connection.
“My [caregiver] sister got me into it while taking care of a patient at his house,” Divine said. “I said I don’t know if I feel comfortable because I never did it before and they taught me how to take care of him because he was in a wheelchair. I liked it, it was different.”
While she’s excited to be recognized for her own accomplishments on the upcoming trip, Divine is quick to point out that the trip is for her boyfriend too. Perhaps thinking of others before herself is just a reflex at this point.
“It’s gonna be fun. and it’s like I didn’t think I was ever going to go back to Mexico,” said Divine. “My boyfriend is gonna turn 65 down there so it’s good because he’s [also] gonna retire this year. That’s a nice trip for him, too.”
Home Sweet Home is a feature appearing Mondays in McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse. The story focuses on a heartwarming, entertaining or quirky happening affecting the world of home care. If you have a topic that might be worthy of the spotlight in Home Sweet Home, please email Special Projects Coordinator Foster Stubbs at [email protected].
