Care worker of the year inspires nine-year-old son to work in care

Home Instead Senior Care’s caregiver of the year has made his son so proud, he has told his classmates when he grows up he wants to be a care worker, just like his dad.

After Mike Bradbury won the title of Home Instead Senior Care’s caregiver of the year, his son Thomas, aged nine, gave a presentation to his class describing his dad as the “best caregiver in Europe”.

“To have been honoured with this award is the cherry on the cake. To be honoured again by my son Thomas, well that’s an extra cherry on top of that! While other nine-year-olds might aspire to be firemen, astronauts, or pop stars, he’s looked at me and decided he wants to be a caregiver. I can’t begin to describe how good it feels to know he is proud of me and that he aspires to help others as well,” said Mr Bradbury, who started off his professional life as a joiner.

After realising his job was leaving him unfulfilled, Mr Bradbury decided to reinvent himself as a caregiver.

The 45-year-old who works for Home Instead (High Peak), said, “Many people ‘of a certain age’ choose to stick with the path they’re on, even when they’re not happy, but I knew that helping other people would help me just as much. I took the leap and joined Home Instead. Now I give a lot of myself but in return my clients inspire me and I look forward to every day.”

Mr Bradbury from Marple Bridge in Stockport, was awarded the title of Home Instead Senior Care’s caregiver of the Year at Home Instead’s recent national conference. The home care franchise company employs over 9,000 caregivers and Mike Bradbury was honoured as the year’s number one for going above and beyond to provide friendship, as well as personalised support, to elderly people in his community.

He is known for meticulously researching the needs and preferences of the people he cares for so he can do things just the way they like them. When one elderly gentleman said he preferred a wet shave to an electric razor, Mr Bradbury bought the equipment and practiced on himself until he was good enough to give him the shave he wanted. He’s learned other new skills as well, including cooking fish and parsley sauce and painting with watercolours, all so he can help the people he cares for continue to share the things they enjoy.

One lady with dementia went from struggling to engage with anyone to greeting Mr Bradbury with a hug every time she sees him. She even began to recognise her husband from old photographs and told Mr Bradbury she wished he’d got to meet him.

He also takes an elderly man with dementia to Werneth Low, because the view helps him to reminisce about the routes he used to take, in his younger days, when he was a keen cyclist.

Mike Bradbury was put forward for the award by Paul Vickers, owner of the Home Instead High Peak office.

Mr Vickers said, “Mike is a genuine and special kind of caregiver. When he came to Home Instead, his only experience was of caring for his own parents but he wanted to make a difference to the lives of others in his local community. He took to the role like a duck to water and has proved to be an outstanding friend and a carer to all of his clients.

“His cool head and compassionate nature make Mike a truly inspirational individual. Not only does he support his clients to the highest standards, he also takes time to support new caregivers when they begin caring for clients. His communication is faultless and I’m really proud, though not at all surprised, to see him win this prestigious award.”

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