Caregiver / Direct Support Professional

0:12

My name is Charles Nightlinger, and I started as a Direct Support Professional here at OneWell. You're working and coordinating their schedule for the day — making sure their needs are taken care of first, whether that's medication, appointments, or anything they have planned.

0:30

And most of the time you also have downtime with the individual — going to a park, playing a board game, something that makes them feel fulfilled and like they're really connecting with their staff.

0:46

One individual I worked with had a hard time building connections. He didn't get along with a lot of people — not because he was unfriendly, but because he didn't know how to interact or relate to them.

1:00

I worked with him for several years, and over that time I slowly realized that every day he would come and greet me, where normally he would just run away and hide in his room. By working with him every day and doing his daily routines together, we built up those connections and bonds.

1:22

It got to the point where he would run and greet me at the door — he'd open it because he knew I was coming.

1:30

The team here at OneWell is a lot of different people coming together under one idea: helping our individuals. I started at a DSP-level position, and through hard work and dedication they've continually pushed me up through the different departments in the organization.

1:47

Go for it. Just go into the role knowing that every day is different. There will be challenging days, and there will be days that just skate by where it feels like you clocked in and already had a great day with your individual. Everybody has off days; everybody has amazing days.