Home Instead Senior Care CAREGivers of the Year

The Mary Steibel CAREGiver of the Year Award inspires CAREGivers to strive for excellence. It creates a sense of pride in the fact that the Home Instead Senior Care franchise network recognizes, appreciates and rewards their hard work, dedication and service to others. In the following stories, you'll meet seven Home Instead CAREGivers of the Year and learn about them and the power of their love - one of the many qualities that make them outstanding CAREGivers.

		Gerry Rious, CAREGiver of the Year 2007 Lake Charles, Louisana "Whenever I enter my clients' homes, I remember to make them happy by going in with a smile. And I always say that you haven't lived a perfect day until you've done something for someone who can never repay you," said CAREGiver of the Year Gerry Rious. About being a Home Instead CAREGiver, she said, "I'm really drawn to this job. I just love it." Franchise Owner George Cestia is equally pleased that Gerry found her calling working for his office. During her time as a CAREGiver, Gerry has logged most of her hours working with a dementia client who has no family. On September 22, 2005, the job of serving as that client's CAREGiver took on a significant added dimension due to Hurricane Rita, which was bearing down on Louisiana. "Gerry took this client with her and her husband to a family home out of harm's way," George said. "We thought this would turn into a two-day trip, at most. However, two days turned into three weeks, since nobody could return to the city due to the utter devastation." "You'll find in Gerry a one-of-a-kind person who embodies the core values of a Home Instead CAREGiver," he commented. "I own the business, but Gerry is the business."
		Alec Rogers, CAREGiver of the Year 2006 Northbrook, Illinois Home Instead Senior Care Co-Founder Lori Hogan called CAREGiver of the Year Alec Rogers a "superstar - one who helps Home Instead Senior Care shine brilliantly by touching clients' lives each and every day." Read More
		Jeanie Avilez, CAREGiver of the Year 2005 Fresno, California You don't have to talk long with Jeanie Avilez to realize that she's devoted to seniors. That's what makes her work resume a bit of a puzzle. There's a 16-year span of no service to the elderly between the time she left a nursing home job and when she joined Home Instead Senior Care." Read More
		Sandra Golden, CAREGiver of the Year 2004 Columbia, South Carolina CAREGiver of the Year Sandra Golden has been shining since she joined the Home Instead Senior Care caregiving team in Columbia, South Carolina. Known as the "golden girl" by her clients, Sandra has brought happiness to many older adults who have come under her care. Read More
		Jane Travis, CAREGiver of the Year 2003 Carmel, New York When it comes to clients with physical illnesses or disabilities, CAREGiver of the Year Jane Travis truly understands. Jane, from the Carmel, New York franchise office, has lived with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for many years, but that hasn't stopped her. In fact, she's the first one to admit it's made her a better CAREGiver. "Going through MS makes me more understanding and compassionate for other people's illnesses," she said Read More
		Helena Hickson, CAREGiver of the Year 2002 Savannah, Georgia Helena Hickson of Savannah, Georgia came to Home Instead Senior Care with the highest qualifications. The third eldest of 12 children born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, to a carpenter and his homemaker wife, Helena had plenty of experience caring for her siblings. Read More
		Charles Ripley, CAREGiver of the Year 2001 Des Moines, Iowa A good deed led Charles Ripley of Des Monies, Iowa to make caregiving a successful career long after he had retired from other jobs. "I became interested in caregiving when I took care of a friend with emphysema," Charles said. "I'd pick him up and take him to dinner and I'd drive him where he needed to go. When he couldn't take care of himself, I helped him find a nursing home." Read More

		Gerry Rious, CAREGiver of the Year 2007 Lake Charles, Louisana "Whenever I enter my clients' homes, I remember to make them happy by going in with a smile. And I always say that you haven't lived a perfect day until you've done something for someone who can never repay you," said CAREGiver of the Year Gerry Rious. About being a Home Instead CAREGiver, she said, "I'm really drawn to this job. I just love it." Franchise Owner George Cestia is equally pleased that Gerry found her calling working for his office. During her time as a CAREGiver, Gerry has logged most of her hours working with a dementia client who has no family. On September 22, 2005, the job of serving as that client's CAREGiver took on a significant added dimension due to Hurricane Rita, which was bearing down on Louisiana. "Gerry took this client with her and her husband to a family home out of harm's way," George said. "We thought this would turn into a two-day trip, at most. However, two days turned into three weeks, since nobody could return to the city due to the utter devastation." "You'll find in Gerry a one-of-a-kind person who embodies the core values of a Home Instead CAREGiver," he commented. "I own the business, but Gerry is the business."
		Alec Rogers, CAREGiver of the Year 2006 Northbrook, Illinois Home Instead Senior Care Co-Founder Lori Hogan called CAREGiver of the Year Alec Rogers a "superstar - one who helps Home Instead Senior Care shine brilliantly by touching clients' lives each and every day." Read More
		Jeanie Avilez, CAREGiver of the Year 2005 Fresno, California You don't have to talk long with Jeanie Avilez to realize that she's devoted to seniors. That's what makes her work resume a bit of a puzzle. There's a 16-year span of no service to the elderly between the time she left a nursing home job and when she joined Home Instead Senior Care." Read More
		Sandra Golden, CAREGiver of the Year 2004 Columbia, South Carolina CAREGiver of the Year Sandra Golden has been shining since she joined the Home Instead Senior Care caregiving team in Columbia, South Carolina. Known as the "golden girl" by her clients, Sandra has brought happiness to many older adults who have come under her care. Read More
		Jane Travis, CAREGiver of the Year 2003 Carmel, New York When it comes to clients with physical illnesses or disabilities, CAREGiver of the Year Jane Travis truly understands. Jane, from the Carmel, New York franchise office, has lived with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for many years, but that hasn't stopped her. In fact, she's the first one to admit it's made her a better CAREGiver. "Going through MS makes me more understanding and compassionate for other people's illnesses," she said Read More
		Helena Hickson, CAREGiver of the Year 2002 Savannah, Georgia Helena Hickson of Savannah, Georgia came to Home Instead Senior Care with the highest qualifications. The third eldest of 12 children born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, to a carpenter and his homemaker wife, Helena had plenty of experience caring for her siblings. Read More
		Charles Ripley, CAREGiver of the Year 2001 Des Moines, Iowa A good deed led Charles Ripley of Des Monies, Iowa to make caregiving a successful career long after he had retired from other jobs. "I became interested in caregiving when I took care of a friend with emphysema," Charles said. "I'd pick him up and take him to dinner and I'd drive him where he needed to go. When he couldn't take care of himself, I helped him find a nursing home." Read More