Level 3 Nursing and Paramedic student, Gemma Richardson, is completing her final year while working an average of 26 hours per week as a Care Assistant at Briar House Care Home, which based in King’s Lynn and home to around 50 patients with dementia.

She said:

“Each shift is twelve hours and it is a long day, but I find my work extremely rewarding. At times it is hard to stay positive as we all struggle with not seeing our families and friends, but knowing that I am doing an important job, caring for individuals with dementia who are not able to see their families at the moment, makes it feel like we are one big family.

I feel the current crisis has brought out a sense of community spirit in my team. We all trust one another and know that we are all doing the right thing. We are getting a lot of support and appreciation from the general public, which has brought the whole community together. When I finish work at 8pm on a Thursday and hearing and seeing all the people outside their houses clapping has been a real morale booster for us all.”