Visiting Angels Celebrates Retirement of Personal Care Assistant
After six years with Visiting Angels South Elgin, Sandra Yarbrough, Personal Care Assistant, has retired.
Sandra has spent her life’s work dedicated to caring for others. Her vast knowledge in the field of senior care started back in the ’80s when Sandra received her CNA classroom and clinical training. She applied her training and gained experience while working in the nursing home and mental health facility settings and home care. In addition to her work, Sandra’s caring heart expanded to include foster care. She served as a foster mother for nearly a decade.
Sandra’s determination and goal-oriented spirit are proof that she has a genuine caring heart for others. Her clients found her to be a compassionate listener as she strived to form a true companionship while assisting with their care needs.
Sandra still remembers her first interview with Visiting Angels. She knew it was the place for her when director and owner, Arlene Petersen, paused the interview to pray for her. Sandra shared she was going through a lot at the time and was deeply touched by that gesture. She knew Visiting Angels was the place she was supposed to be.
Although she has undoubtedly faced challenging situations, Sandra has found her work to be wonderful and rewarding. She attributes this to the warm and friendly atmosphere established by the office staff at Visiting Angels.
Sandra shares, “… [the staff] made a person want to work there and do our best. I know the presence of God rested there. The ongoing classes were always helpful and enjoyable. Visiting Angels always made me feel that they genuinely cared for their employees and their clients.”
Beyond working as a Personal Care Assistant, Sandra serves in her church community. She has served as a Sunday school teacher and Pastor’s assistant. During the COVID pandemic, she selflessly stepped up to teach Sunday school via Zoom so that the younger generation could continue to deepen their faith.
When she’s not working with clients or preparing for her next Sunday school lesson, Sandra loves to cook, noting she is exceptionally skilled at outdoor grilling.
Sandra hopes that her retirement will afford her the time to exercise (which she enjoys), eat healthily, and relish in her music and meditation. She is also looking forward to spending more time with her family and spoiling her “grand-babies.” Also, she plans to focus more on herself and her faith. She shares, “I have been so busy with life that this time is for me, to pray, to deepen my relationship with the Lord.”
The team at Visiting Angels South Elgin will greatly miss Sandra and her hard-working, kind-hearted spirit. They wish her well as she embarks on this next stage of her life and is grateful for her many years of service as a Personal Care Assistant.