Hugh McGurrin | Dovida Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon

Hugh McGurrin is a Caregiver with Dovida in county Leitrim. For Dovida Culture Week, Hugh told us how his upbringing has shaped his values and his work as a Caregiver.

My culture is a culmination of things. The person I am today is due to my upbringing, what I learned from my parents, through school, and what we were encouraged to do – there was a fantastic community spirit where I grew up, and we were raised with good societal values. “Do unto others as you would have them do to you,” is a message that particularly stands out.

I worked all my life as a public servant, and when the opportunity to become a Caregiver came up, I saw it as something to do to give back, and something that I could do in retirement that would fit around my lifestyle.

You really feel like you’re making a difference, and you become a part of somebody’s daily routine. People need help and that’s it, whether they’re the one who needs care or they are the next of kin who need a break. You can develop a good relationship with the person and really get to know them, and that makes the work even more enjoyable.