Erica Elesthe has more than 8,000 hours of experience as a caregiver for people with Parkinson’s disease. Many of those hours have been spent overnight, keeping a close eye out for emergencies. Despite the tough hours, the North Carolina native couldn’t be happier with her chosen career path, which she’s been pursuing since she was 18.
“Ever since being a nanny for a child with cystic fibrosis, I’ve had a passion for taking care of people with special needs,” says Erica. “I got my first geriatric care position when I was 18." From there, people with Parkinson's disease became the focus of her career.
When she first started caregiving, she didn’t know much about Parkinson’s disease. Her first resource was The Michael J. Fox Foundation website. After that, she just learned from experience.
Besides checking the Foundation website for advice, she also connects with MJFF as well as other caregivers over social media. On Instagram and on her website, she shares caregiver ups and downs with her followers.
“I think the importance of social media is that even if I can’t give thousands of dollars of my own money, I can raise awareness not just for Parkinson’s disease but for caregivers,” she says.
One recent post showed Erica wearing a medical mask with the caption “and sometimes when you go to work there is a quarantine #caregiver.” She also shared a picture of an older woman wearing a spunky hat, to show that of course, elderly people can have fun, too.
“I want people to see that caregiving isn’t just sweet, it’s not just fluff,” she says. “Not everyone can go to bed at 6am and function for the rest of the day!”
Though she’s happy to dispel misconceptions about her profession, she also aims to clear up common ideas about the people she spends so much time with.
“My patients have the same strong need for connection and validity as anyone,” she says. She hopes that the couple of hours she spends with patients can offer them some relief from the pressures of keeping face.
“I think what they get out of it is a safe space where they can feel like themselves," she says.
Connect with the Foundation on Instagram: @michaeljfoxorg
