Polly June Key
Polly Key is a retired home health aide with more than 25 years of experience providing compassionate in-home care services to elderly and vulnerable individuals. She began her career in 1995 working for the State of California in San Bernardino County and later continued her work in Washington State through the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Over the course of her career, she primarily supported older adults in maintaining independence and dignity within their own homes, often caring for multiple clients each day while ensuring consistent, attentive, and personalized care.
During her tenure in home healthcare, Polly completed her home health aide certification in Washington during the COVID-19 pandemic, successfully completing a six-month training program. She was also a union member in both California and Washington, advocating for fair working conditions while remaining deeply committed to the individuals she served. Her approach to care emphasized patient-centered service, prioritizing each client’s preferences, routines, and needs. She believed strongly in adapting care to the individual rather than imposing a standardized approach, which contributed to her reputation for reliability, compassion, and trustworthiness in the field.
Polly’s career in home health began unexpectedly after forming a relationship with a client she met during her daily walks, an experience that shaped her lifelong dedication to caregiving. Throughout her work, she developed a philosophy centered on respect, dignity, and the importance of small, meaningful actions that improve quality of life for elderly clients. Now retired, she reflects on her years of service with pride, having devoted her professional life to helping others remain safely and comfortably in their homes while maintaining their independence for as long as possible.
• High school diploma
• Home Health Aide Certification, Washington State
• Washington State
• Home Health Aide Certification
• Union member (California)
• Union member (Washington)
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Home Healthcare
- Geriatric Care
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
Being able to help people and let them live at home instead of a facility is what I enjoyed most about my work. Allowing them to be comfortable in their own homes and seeing the smiles on their faces when you bring them something to eat or do something special for them - that's everything to me. I'll never forget the smile that one lady gave me the day she got her first real bath in 10 years. There's no money in the world that could ever replace that smile. It's about giving them the ability to stay at home and be comfortable, and just seeing how happy that makes them.
