adminIn a small hospital room in Petaling Jaya, Miss Nik Nordiana Binti Muhammad Salim—a woman in her 30s from Adera Team Community & Alliance Sdn Bhd—sits beside her patient’s bed. The patient is bedridden and monitored by various machines due to a brain hemorrhage.
“It’s time,” she thinks to herself. She quickly stands up to reach for a tin of milk powder, a cup, and a spoon. It is time for her patient to ‘eat’. She scoops three spoonfuls of milk powder, mixes them with water, and stirs the blend until it is perfectly smooth.
Nik Nordiana knows her patient can only consume nutrition in liquid form, so it is crucial to ensure the mixture is thoroughly blended and free of any lumps.
Next, she turns the bed crank to elevate the patient’s upper body, reaches for the funnel kept at the head of the bed, and inserts its tip into the patient’s feeding tube.
“Ma’am, it’s time to eat,” she says gently. The patient offers a slight nod in acknowledgment.
Seeing that the patient is ready, Nik Nordiana pours the freshly prepared milk little by little until the cup is empty. With that, the patient’s ‘dinner’ session for the day concludes.
It is worth noting that Nik Nordiana is not a hospital nurse; she is a private caregiver specifically hired by the patient’s family from Adera Team Community & Alliance Sdn Bhd to provide round-the-clock care in the ward.
From Terengganu to Selangor
Assisting patients with meals has been part of Nik Nordiana’s routine for the past two years. What began as simply filling in for a colleague at the hospital eventually sparked a genuine passion for the caregiving profession.
“To me, it is a responsibility to help the patient’s family provide the necessary care when they are unable to be with the patient themselves,” she says.
A native of Terengganu, she has worked in various fields but admits to having ‘fallen in love’ with the caregiving profession. Her initial work at an elderly care home in Selangor opened her eyes to the various situations faced by the residents.
“Some were immobile, while others suffered from dementia and did not recognize me. I had to learn to understand them,” she said.
Driven by her deep interest, Nik Nordiana subsequently took online classes to obtain certification as a qualified caregiver from Adera Team Community & Alliance Sdn Bhd.
“I already knew how to provide care, but the certificate gave me the confidence to deal with clients,” added Nik Nordiana, who has cared for 30 patients under Adera Team & Community Sdn Bhd across Selangor.
She has worked in various settings, including care centers, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and private homes. “I adapt to the needs. If 24-hour care is required at a hospital, I sleep there,” she explained.
However, as a professional caregiver with the Adera Team, Nik Nordiana sometimes takes the patient’s family’s financial situation into account. If they are from a low-income background, she may reduce her fees.
She added that, beyond the cost, families should also consider the background of the company and the caregiver they intend to hire. She acknowledged that while many caregivers perform their duties honestly, there are some who take advantage of the situation.
“I’ve heard of caregivers stealing items or abandoning patients. Clients need to be cautious and request full details about the caregiver they plan to hire,” she advised.
“Incidents like these create doubt among clients and negatively affect the perception of this profession,” she added.
Mental Resilience Is Essential
Witnessing a patient pass away right before her eyes has become a common event for Nik Nordiana.
“It is part of the natural order of things. What matters is that I cared for them as best I could while they were alive,” she said calmly.
She has cared for frail elderly individuals, persons with disabilities (OKU) requiring special attention, and patients in rehabilitation centers. Each experience has taught her patience.
Nik Nordiana also acknowledged that this career is not as easy as people might think.
“Caring for a patient for 24 hours without adequate rest is exhausting, but I persevere for the patient’s comfort,” she told the writer while adjusting the compression stockings on her patient’s legs.
Bright Career Prospects With The Adera Team Community Alliance Sdn Bhd
Nik Nordiana sees a bright future in this career. “There is always a demand for caregivers,” she said.
The demand for caregiving services continues to rise alongside the growing number of elderly people, children, and persons with disabilities.
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