She’s retired once and now dedicates herself to looking after people in a role she says “doesn’t feel like a job”.
Now Brenda Scarlett, who also supports her daughter and son through ill-health, has been nominated in the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Best of Health Awards.
Mrs Scarlett has been put forward in the Carer of the Year category, which is sponsored by Pulse Community Healthcare, for her efforts for her clients and her own family.
Though she is nearly 65, she says retirement from her current job is not on the horizon yet.
Mrs Scarlett, from Seacroft, Leeds, did retire from her previous job at Unilever seven years ago, but after nine months wanted something else to do.
So she took on what was initially a part-time job as a home carer.
Now she works for between 30 and 40 hours a week helping clients with personal care, making meals and anything else they need.
She said: “It’s not just a job, it’s a pleasure.
“You feel like you are giving something back.”
Her daughter Anjie McChesney, who nominated Brenda for the award, said: “She is very much loved by lots of her clients, who she cares for every day, even Christmas Day.
“She has even been known to make calls on her rare days off.
“I think my mum is one in a million and would love her efforts to be recognised.”
Brenda also supports her daughter, who has various health problems, and son Marc who suffers from depression.
She said she was shocked when she found out she had been nominated.
“I’m just doing my job,” she said.
Carer of the Year is one of 10 categories in the YEP Best of Health Awards, which are sponsored by Sovereign Health Care. Both paid and unpaid carers can be nominated.
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