By Chris KONEY
Whitney Rochelle is an innovative, determined and selfless American Caregiver Support Advocate and Multipreneuer.
She is the oldest of three children and was raised in Durham, North Carolina, in the UnitedStates of America by parents who were generally focused on the well-being of their family.
She attended Southern Durham High School and proceeded to Meredith College, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology.
She started her professional career as a Nurse Assistant at the young age of sixteen years. By dint of hard work, she rose through the ranks and held several positions in the medical field.
According to Whitney, she is enjoying her career as a Medical Field Professional though it was not her initial choice. “Becoming a Medical Field Professional was not a childhood dream.
In fact, funeral service was my childhood passion though I have always loved healthcare, which has made it possible to enjoy what I am doing currently. Out of my collective skills, I have created another business known as Whit the Multipreneur LLC and that is doing very great,” she emphasised.
Whitney, who is very passionate about making an impact in her society, took time off her busy schedule to share more details on the concept of Caregiver Support and its relevance to a society. She further highlighted her humanitarian activities, her recent visit to Africa and further revealed her motivation for giving back to society.
Caregiving is a form of support, which can be physical, emotional or financial and may include help with activities of daily living and medical tasks. In simple terms, a caregiver is a person who gives care to people who need help in taking care of themselves.
For the avoidance of doubt, caregivers are not always nurses even though they may have some similarities in the execution of their work to nurses. The several people they care for may include children, the elderly or patients who have chronic illnesses or are disabled. Caregivers may be health professionals, family members, friends, social workers or members of the clergy.
Over the years, there have been four types of caregivers recognised globally. Professional caregivers are trained, certified and employed to provide care services. In addition, there are the family caregivers, volunteer caregivers and informal caregivers. They might not necessarily have been trained or certified in the field of care-giving.
Caregivers may experience a range of emotions in their role, both positive and negative, and may face specific challenges to their physical and mental health – including isolation or strain. The emotional and physical demands of care-giving can sometimes strain even the strongest person.
Whitney indicated the important role Caregivers Support Global plays in the lives of caregivers. “Higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health effects are common among people who care for people, whether family, friends or clients assigned to them. Caregiver support is empowering caregivers with a platform to advocate for their well-being as well as trying to ensure the voices of such valuable people are heard. Caregivers need outlets to share their struggles with others who understand the challenges, leading into a tremendous assistance in providing strength and support to help caregivers continue in their role,” she added.
As a humanitarian, Whitney believes volunteering does more than address immediate needs, it fosters compassion and cooperation that strengthen the very foundations of our society. Through each act of service, volunteers inspire a culture of generosity and mutual respect.
“My motivation for giving back to society is servanthood and love. Life can be hard sometimes as well as very stressful. However, showing love, care and concern can go a long way to assist in several ways. I recently travelled to Kenya on a ministry mission with my fellowship group. In Kenya, we fed, clothed many people and shared with them the gospel of Jesus Christ,” she elaborated.
In her conclusion, Whitney encouraged everyone to be a Purpose Pursuer, leveraged on their passion to chase their dreams.
>>>the writer is a thought leader in Marketing Communications, Stakeholder Relationship Management Professional and International Cooperation Specialist. Over the last fifteen (15) years, he has made tremendous impact within Africa’s corporate communications and creative arts sectors. He can be reached at [email protected] / +233 20 854 1480.
