CNA Cares For Maryland's Vulnerable: Patch Local Hero

CHESAPEAKE BEACH, MD — For two years, Grace Farrell has worked as a CNA for an in-home care company called ComForCare. She had no idea when she started down this career path that the coronavirus would challenge her profession and the health care industry like never before.

In her line of work, Farrell helps her clients perform daily life activities. She will complete tasks they cannot tackle on their own and encourages them when they are able to do things on their own.

"Most importantly, I am a companion, friend and family," Farrell told Patch.

Because CNAs like Farrell are needed every single day, they cannot stay home. To ensure they are staying safe, they take added precautions. In fact, employees like Farrell are filling an important void.

"It has affected my clients' lives though with fear and being separated from loved ones. That’s the hardest part of it all," she said. "I do worry about my patients, not only because of coronavirus but any health problems that they live with."

Her dedication to her clients is heartwarming and Farrell worries about unknowingly passing the virus on to her clients.

"Even with all the precautions we take, I could not live with myself if I were to pass it on especially to the people I love and care for. There have been nights where I did not sleep because I felt a tickle in my throat… this pandemic has definitely brought anxiety to many people and I am not the only one," she said.

For others like Farrell who work in the health care industry, she offered a bit of advice in coping.

"Put all your love into your work and patients. Don’t let fear take you hostage, instead let the circumstances of today make you strong, bring you closer to the ones you love, and shine on a light on what is good and what is to come," she said.

Lois Kramer nominated Farrell as a Patch local hero because of her dedication.

"Grace works with our most vulnerable population everyday, helping protect and care for them and their families. Her day doesn’t end when her shift does; she then continues that selflessness in her free time, limiting others exposure to Covid 19. She grocery shops for our clients, her friends and family, delivers homemade face masks to people in need and recently brought flowers to the wife of a client that passed. She gives her whole heart to others, on and off the clock," Kramer shared with Patch. "Grace is an inspiration."

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