A care assistant from Cardiff has been recognised for her ‘exceptional’ service and ‘sheer number’ of accounts of kindness, compassion, and dedication to her role. Arjanpreet (Preet) Kaur was dubbed, ‘The Incredible of The Year’ for her exceptional caregiving after having competed with ten other outstanding finalists from 5,500 care assistants throughout the United Kingdom.
As part of her job, Preet helped her customers find company, socialise, and open up to care, often going the extra mile for her customers. In one instance, she even learned Welsh so she could better communicate with a dying woman.
Sharing Preet’s story, Sharan Dhaliwal, managing director and care manager at Caremark Cardiff and the Vale said: “There were nine other outstanding finalists at the awards ceremony, so we are absolutely thrilled that Preet has won; she is a true beacon of hope and compassion in the lives of her customers. Her dedication is best illustrated by the profound impact she’s had on people she’s cared for.”
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Sharan recounted how Preet’s quick thinking once saved a woman’s life. She said: “One of her customers, who has hypertension, suffered a stroke during a routine care call. Preet quickly recognised the signs, called 999 and provided crucial details to the paramedics. Doctors stated that the outcome could have been far worse if it hadn’t been for her swift action.”
Sharan added that the customer frequently says: “Preet didn’t just care for me – she saved my life.” For the latest Cardiff news, sign up to our newsletter here
Recounting how Preet learnt Welsh to assist a dying woman, Sharan said: “In another instance, she provided care for a customer in the final stages of their life, who was suffering with multiple complex conditions. Preet formed a close emotional bond with her, spent extra hours with her medical team to make sure her care was perfect, and even learned key Welsh phrases to communicate in her own language, bringing great comfort.”
She added that the customer’s family expressed deep gratitude towards Preet, and said: “Preet’s care for my mother is beyond anything we could have hoped for. . . she brings a calm and compassionate presence into our home. . . I honestly don’t know what we’d do without her.”
Sharan also explained the role Preet played in helping a dementia patient become less isolated. She said: “Preet helped another customer with vascular dementia, who refused to let any care staff into her home. With patience and gentle persistence, she spoke to her through the door, slowly gaining her trust. Before long, Preet was able to go in and their bond blossomed.”
She added how the daughter of this customer “never imagined” this could happen. The daughter said: “Preet completely transformed things for my mum. Before she arrived, my mother wouldn’t let anyone into the house – she was isolated and scared. Now, they sing and dance together. I never imagined that was possible.”
David Glover, CEO of Caremark, said of Preet: “Hearing the life-changing stories of our ten finalists has been extremely moving. However, it was the sheer number of these accounts of kindness, compassion and dedication to her role that has seen Preet named our very worthy champion. Her ability to connect deeply with each person she cares for has made her an indispensable part of the Caremark team and a cherished companion to her customers.”