Care Professional Catch up with Sylvia

Meet our Care Professional, Sylvia, who began her career in care with us four years ago. Sylvia has a keen love of the outdoors and conservation and has had a varied life, living in countries all over Europe.

From becoming an optician in Germany to discovering a love for Beavers in Budleigh. Discover her journey with us over the years.

A Change of Career

Sylvia had built her career working as a dispensing optician in Germany and Norway. Sylvia had spent more than 25 years working in the industry, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, changes to the industry meant that many roles were cut.

Rather than stepping back, she made the bold decision to train as a carer, and almost five years on, she has never looked back. For Sylvia, the best part of her role is simple – to make her clients laugh and to build friendships. Getting positive feedback from her clients and their families also makes the work so rewarding.

Saving the Beavers

Fifteen years ago, when Sylvia was living near Bristol, a friend introduced her to rare Beavers living in Budleigh Salterton. Before long, Sylvia was making regular trips to East Devon to visit these incredible animals, developing a passion for them.

When the government proposed to remove the Beavers, Sylvia couldn’t just stand by and watch. She became involved in campaigns and petitions to protect them and travelled down each weekend to walk along the Otter Estuary, ensuring they are safe from culling.

Thanks to her and a dedicated group of Beaver Conservationists, the Beavers were allowed to stay, resulting in over 28 different Beaver territories, each ranging from a single Beaver to family groups of up to 10!

Sylvia shares updates and information via her YouTube channel – @sylviameller3378, encouraging more people to fall in love with these industrious animals. Did you know that Beavers have orange teeth because they’re reinforced with iron! This helps them to gnaw through trees and branches.

Foraging, Wildlife and Mushrooms

Alongside her care work and her love of Beavers, Sylvia offers guided foraging and insect tours in the local area. Her love of nature goes back to Bavaria, where she grew up foraging for mushrooms with her family. Her favourite one is the hedgehog mushroom which looks as if it has lots of little spikes underneath – like a hedgehog!

For those interested in identifying fauna and flora, she recommends the ObsIdentify app, a great resource for wildlife and nature identification.

A Life Well-Lived

Sylvia’s journey has taken her across continents and countries, she has discovered new passions and built a career around caring, for wildlife and people alike.

When she talks about caring for Home Instead’s clients her face lights up as she describes the laughter they share. Whether in the home, by the river or in the woods, one thing is clear: Sylvia is a carer in every sense of the word.