3 reasons Clare loves being a physiotherapist with Feros Care
Clare Connolly has been a full-time physiotherapist with Feros Care for eight years, but her history with the company goes back to 2003.
โI was working as a private practitioner in Bangalow and we had a contract with Feros Careโs Bangalow residential village,โ says Clare. โIt got to a point where I was getting so many referrals from Feros Care that I said to them, โIt sounds like you need another physio.โ And they said yes!โ
Clare now splits her time between working in the community and in Ferosโs Virtual Social Centre (VSC). We sat down with Clare to find out what she loves most about her job.
1. No two days are the same
When we asked Clare whether she prefers working with clients in person or online, she couldnโt pick a favourite.
โItโs the variety of work that I enjoy,โ she explains. โIโm not in one spot all the time. As a community-based physio working with people in their homes, I can deliver a lot more because I really get an understanding of whatโs going on in their lives. I can see what their daily challenges are and give them tailored exercises to enhance their quality of life.โ
Many of Clareโs clients have chronic conditions sheโs been helping them manage for a number of years. โIโve been working with one lady in Mullumbimby for seven years,โ she says. โShe has a spinal cord issue and sheโs in a wheelchair, so I assist her to stay independent at home. Itโs a joy to spend time with her every week.โ
Another one of her clients has always been a keen swimmer, but back problems and falls caused her to lose her confidence in the water. โSheโs 92 and weโve just gotten her back into the pool,โ says Clare. โItโs so lovely seeing her go back to what she really loves doing.โ
Clare is just as passionate about the virtual classes she delivers in the VSC. โI do a lot of different sessions, including core and pelvic floor, stability and balance, and flexibility and posture. The core and pelvic floor sessions are predominantly seated so anyone can do them.โ
While itโs easy to assume that connecting with her clients is more challenging online than in person, Clare says this isnโt the case at all. โI see the same people regularly and get to know them well,โ she says. โI have people from all over the country attending my online classes and they love it because it removes many of the barriers to exercise. Transportation can be a real issue and sometimes people feel embarrassed when others are looking at them. In an online class, people canโt really see what youโre doing.โ
Clare also loves that she can conduct virtual classes from the comfort of her home – or even from overseas! โI took my kids to Malaysia for a week and I did the VSC classes from my hotel room,โ she says. โMy clients loved looking out the window at the beautiful view.โ
2. Her impact goes far beyond physiotherapy
Beyond helping her clients improve their health and mobility, Clare also has a huge impact on their mental wellbeing. โSometimes itโs the little things,โ she explains. โA client might say, โYou make me laughโ or โYou make me smile.โ Thatโs not the main purpose of my visit, but those little things can make a real difference. I look at each person as a whole, not as a person with XYZ problems.โ
One of her clients has Parkinsonโs disease, which is extremely challenging both physically and emotionally. โWe’d been working together on the physical side of things, but I noticed he was a keen chess player because he had three chess boards set up around his house,โ says Clare. โHe told me he hadnโt played since his diagnosis, so now we end each session with a game of chess. Iโm a really bad chess player, but it doesnโt matter. Itโs part of the big-picture view of working on his mind and body.
โIf youโre working in someoneโs home, you can tap into those things. In a private practice physio interview, Iโd never ask, โOh, do you like chess?โ But when youโre in their home, you get to interact with their interests, their pets and their loved ones. It gives you the opportunity to have a bigger impact than just as a physio.โ
When sheโs conducting VSC classes, she starts each session with a catch-up chat. โAll sorts of things come up,โ she explains. โPeople share things that have happened in their lives, and if I havenโt seen someone in a while, I ask how theyโre going. Itโs just as important as doing the exercises because it makes the sessions engaging and fun.โ
Watching the deep connections that sometimes form between VSC members also brings Clare joy. โOne lady in WA and one in New South Wales who became friends through my classes met face to face in WA,โ she says. โIt was so lovely to see!โ
3. Feros Care is an incredibly supportive employer
When Clare was faced with family challenges over the course of a few years, her team had her back every step of the way.
โFeros Care is a very supportive employer and very understanding of the fact that we have other things going on in our lives that are important too,โ she says. โIโve been incredibly well-supported by my manager and team through my family challenges.
โIโve always been a hard worker and I always strive to do my best, but when Iโve had to say, โI just canโt be here for two weeks,โ theyโve been so supportive and encouraging. Theyโve told me to take as much time as I need and checked in with me regularly. Itโs a good working relationship where they know Iโll always do the best I can.โ