Torfaen support worker retires after 45 years service

Torfaen council employee Pauline Reed started in home help in 1970.

The dementia team employee had always been interested in care work and previously worked as an auxiliary nurse in Blaenavon Hospital.

The 74-year-old said: “When I started it was just cleaning, shopping and getting their pensions.

“Now it’s totally different. It’s more like a nurse or an administrative assistant.

“You go in and you keep them in their own homes, rather than them going into a home.

“All of my clients are about 90.

“They look forward to us going in.

“They’re trying to keep them all out in the community now, which is a good thing.”

Mrs Reed retired last on Sunday [August 30] and was due to receive a big thank you from Torfaen mayor Giles Davies in his parlour on Wednesday.

She said: “I have really enjoyed what I’ve done right from the word go in 1970.

“Things are changing all the time.

“People tend to have dementia.

"In the old days, they were disabled or something like that.

“Now we do their dinner, breakfast, personal care and the medication.

“I used to work as an auxiliary nurse in Blaenavon before I got married. I loved that.

“With this job either you like it or you don’t.

“I wouldn’t have done it for 45 years if I didn’t.

"I’ve never taken a day off sick.”

Mrs Reed said the care professions ran in her family as her daughter Jane Elson manages three hospitals in west Wales and her granddaughter Jade is training to be a nurse.

Before stepping down she said: “I plan to do voluntary work in my retirement, as I am not inclined to sit down.

“I will be sad to go, mainly because I will be leaving my clients, but it is time.”

Val Bessell, team manager for Torfaen community services team manager, said: “I would like to thank Pauline for the many years of care she has provided to the people of Torfaen, who I know will miss her, and for the support she has given to her colleagues.

"I wish Pauline a long and happy retirement.”