We review a book that gets to the very heart of care work

Photo credit: Centre for Ageing Better

A review of Every Kind of People: A Journey into the Heart of Care Work, by Kathryn Faulke, published by Penguin in 2024:

It felt like a privilege to be invited into the homes of individuals with whom Kathryn and her colleagues were working, to see lives that easily become invisible. 

Training and development lead for Anna Chaplaincy, Julia Burton-Jones, has been reading a new book about care work entitled Every Kind of People.  Written by Kathryn Faulke about her work caring for older people in their own homes, the book was published in October last year and contains rich detail and reflection on her encounters with people in need of care, and the vital contribution she and her colleagues make to their well-being.

In describing the book, Julia says:

‘Reading the many vivid stories from Kathryn’s daily work with older people was impactful and inspiring. In 2020 Anna Chaplaincy published a series of Carers’ Guides to assist care workers in supporting older people in their spiritual needs when Anna Chaplains were prevented from visiting due to the pandemic. 

We are planning to update the guides and reissue them, so reading Every Kind of People was a reminder of the vital role of our care workforce in supporting identity and nurturing spirituality in frail older people.

‘It felt like a privilege to be invited into the homes of individuals with whom Kathryn and her colleagues were working, to see lives that easily become invisible. Several themes struck me in becoming acquainted with these fragile but strong-minded characters. Their existence was often limited to moving between bed and chair in a single room, with the care workers' visits the central activity of their days. 

‘Kathryn brings the outside world into this limited frame of reference and is often the sole confidante and friend.  For this reason (and I know this well through having trained many care workers), the impetus to go beyond contractual duties, staying longer and popping in between scheduled visits, is strong. The motivation to do the very best for clients pushes care workers to go above and beyond their poorly-paid commitment to allotted shifts. A trip accompanying someone to hospital that takes two hours beyond the two hours that are paid, is accepted as necessary for the welfare of the client.

‘The nature of the relationship with clients is explored throughout. It is clear that it is impossible not to form an attachment to regular clients who depend on you, who you may see several times a day over several years. 

Moving stories include accounts of colleagues’ distress when a client is dying. In Chapter 28, client Maureen repeatedly says, as she grows weaker, I want to go home, and carer Julie struggles to hold back tears. Julie and I go into the kitchen and I put my arms around her and she sobs. Then we blow our noses and go back. 

When the connection has been deep, the death of that person hurts: His death is not distant to you like those of customers you barely knew, or vague like those you visited less. Franklyn’s was a sigh. Beryl’s a nasty pinch. Eddie’s a slap. Maureen’s was more painful. But Mr Radbert’s is a punch, a flying tackle. You’re wounded by it. 

‘The relationships described are two-way. There are many stories where the person receiving care offers support and affection to the care worker, and the word ‘love’ is used to describe the bond. The older person expresses love and appreciation to Kathryn, and she returns the affection. The depth of relationship that comes from daily contact and intense vulnerability allows the care worker to form bonds of trust that enable conversations about fears and losses – these are truly ‘spiritual’ conversations. She often goes to work with a question to ask each person.  The final question is “What’s more important – love, truth or caring?” and the discussions it sparks are enlightening.

‘She is often on the receiving end of angry words and insults, even physical injury, but understands that this is not a personal attack but the only way the person can vent painful feelings. She and her colleagues frequently face challenging environments and circumstances in which to provide care but are incredibly resourceful. 

The work is physically, psychologically and emotionally challenging, and the exhaustion it brings was felt in extreme measure during the pandemic; care workers faced intolerable pressures to cover care needs while wearing PPE (looking like ‘plastic robots’) and undertaking tasks that were not part of their usual responsibilities. Their clients were terrified and confused about the virus and necessity for lockdowns.

‘In Anna Chaplaincy, we see our role as supporting carers (family carers and care workers), as well as the older people they look after. This wonderful book makes the case strongly for care workers being affirmed, honoured and nurtured in providing support for our older population. 

As Kathryn righty suggests, our society does not value the vital work of caring for the bodies of those who are old and frail, but its potential to enable dignity, peace and spiritual wellbeing as people near the end of their lives is enormous.’

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