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Home Instead Senior Care
Portland – East

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Meet Our Outstanding CAREGivers

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A Tradition of Great Caregiving

At Home Instead Senior Care, we reward our local CAREGivers with CAREGiver of the Month and CAREGiver of the Year awards to show our appreciation for all they do. Home Instead, Inc. also recognizes regional CAREGivers of the Year and one special CAREGiver who shows exceptional dedication is the recipient of the national award — The Mary Steibel CAREGiverSM of the Year Award.

This program inspires CAREGivers to strive for excellence. It creates a sense of pride in the fact that the Home Instead Senior CareSM franchise network recognizes, appreciates and rewards their hard work, compassionate care and service to others.


Jody L

CAREGiver of the Month
February 2012
 
Throughout the past couple of months Jody has time and time again come through to help out when needed. She holds a positive attitiude and always puts forth her best effort. The entire staff agree that Jody demonstrates what it means to ‘Live Home Instead Senior Care’. Thank you Jody L!

Teresa D.

CAREGiver of the Month
January 2012
 
We are celebrating Teresa's FOURTH Anniversary this month by honoring her with our CAREGiver of the Month! She is one hard-working Lady! She works full time for a worldwide shipping company and helps our Clients in the evenings and on weekends.
Teresa is tremendously reliable and detail oriented. She has excellent communication skills and in fact, helps Jaye our Service Manager by proofreading some of our documents.
We appreciate her bright and sunny personality and the kindness and humor that she shares with her Clients.
 
CONGRATULATIONS TERESA! 

Jenny S

CAREGiver of the month
December 2011
 

Jenny has been with us for just over 3 years and during her time at Home Instead Senior Care she has provided services to a number of clients. She is extremely professional, has a caring heart and a warm smile. She enriches her client’s lives with her happy, positive attitude and her wonderful ability to adapt to a change in the daily routine. She is good at communicating with the office and we feel so lucky to have her on the team! Congratulations Jenny!!!


Marisa S

CAREGiver of the Month
October 2011
 
Congratulations Marisa for being our October 2011 CAREGiver of the month!! MArisa has been with Home Instead Senior Care since April 2010. She continues to amaze us all the time and her clients absolutely adore her. Thank you Marisa for living Home Instead Senior Care everyday and always going above and beyond the call of duty. And although you make us wonderful truffles each year for the Holidays, you were chosen for your hard work, dedication and loyalty!

Molly M.

CAREGiver of the Month
September 2011
 
When she was nominated, the compliments flowed! Here are just a couple:
"She's always has a smile on her face and has such a warm way of interacting with her Clients. She has had 'challenging' clients but is patient and wonderful at redirecting them. She is reliable, on time, and happy to help out with extra shifts when she can. I look forward to 'bumping' into Molly in the field as she has such a pleasant and happy personality."
"She is very thorough and always makes sure she understands the policies. She asks great questions, always does her training."
CONGRATULATIONS MOLLY

Donna W

CAREGiver of the Month
August 2011
 
Congratulations Donna!
You were nominated by Staffing Coordinator Heidi B. and a cheer erupted in the room! We really appreciate your cheery, optimistic attitude. We admire your commitment and dedication. We are amazed at your flexibility and willingness.
Mostly, we marvel at the magic you work with your primary Client. She is very special. You make each moment with her a treasure for the both of you..

Karin O.

CAREGiver of the Month
July 2011
 
Congratulations to Karin for being our CAREGiver of the month for July! It struck me the other day that when Karin became a CAREGiver (July 2006) I was downright excited to send her to a Client. She is electric! She brings such a sense of confidence and enthusiasm, such a fun attitude and optimism (You can do it!) to every Client. Besides those qualities, she is very reliable and thorough. She is encouraging and celebrates the littlest successes.
CONGRATULATIONS
KARIN!

Loretta H.

CAREGiver of the month
June 2011
 
Loretta H. was nominated by our Weekend Supervisor and Client Care Manager Karen F. She said "I always hang up the phone after speaking with her, having a smile on my face. She fills in at a moment's notice and happily does so. She always wishes me a good day and has a pleasant personality. Her Clients genuinely enjoy having her there. She amazes me with her willingness and happy disposition!"
CONGRATULATIONS LORETTA!!!

Sherrie

May 2011
CAREGiver of the Month
 
Special thanks to Sherrie's main Client Anne for this nomination. It was late one evening when a CAREGiver called in sick. Once again, like so many times lately, Sherrie agreed to stay the whole day to cover for the sick person. I called Anne and she said "Sherrie is so wonderful to us and helps out so much. I think she should win that monthly award you give out!"
I whole heartily agreed and so did the office staff! Basically, if Sherrie can do it, she does it. She is so willing, helpful and caring. She has saved the day so many times!
CONGRATULATIONS SHERRIE!!
 
 

Angela W.

CAREGiver of the Month
April 2011
 
Congratulations! Angela was hired in December 2008 and has served over 34 different clients during that time. Angela is someone who always helps out with company events and meetings when she isnt with her lovely family or our wonderful seniors. She is attentive, cheery and fun to be around. She has a pleasant demeanor, always smiles, solves problems and always goes above and beyond. She is excellent with more challenging situations and all of her clients just love seeing her! You are a natural in your job here! Thank you Angela

Dawn D.

CAREGiver of the Month
March 2011
 
Dawn has been with Home Instead since October of 2009. We are pleased to honor her this month because she is deserving on so many levels and for so many reasons.
 
Dawn is very intelligent, gentle, and a quiet leader. She is very observant and very caring. She is one that can look at the greater view and provide suggestions of how things can be made better. She doesnt call with a problem, she calls with solution to a potential problem.
 
Dawn is very generous with her time. She has been tremendously helpful in many of Home Insteads charitable endeavors, donating her time, heart and mind to the cause at hand. We are thrilled that she is on our newly created CAREGiver Commitee and in our very first meeting of the new group, she showed great insight and had great ideas. As a CAREGiver, she is very well-liked by all she serves. She is a rock in any situation and shows remarkable calmness that translates to others around her. Congratulations Dawn!

Cindy M

CAREGiver of the Month
January 2011
 
This is what one of our staff members had to say about Cindy.
"I nominate Cindy for CAREGiver of the Month. She works with one of our most challenging clients and always has a pleasant demeanor and a smile on her face. She does her best at making each day for her clients the best it can be and keeps safety in mind while doing so. I appreciate the patience she has and her outlook on providing the best service she can. And her clients really enjoy having her be a part of their day."
CONGRATULATIONS Cindy!

Deb W.

CAREGiver of the Month
February 2011
 
Deb is not the way she is because she is trying to win the CARGiver of the Month. She genuinely loves to help people and demonstrates on almost a daily basis that she is a strong member of the fantastic CAREGiver Team that our office is so privleged to work with. Deb, you have stepped in when others were not able and have always done so with amazing enthusiasm. We appreciate you so very much!!
 
Congratulations!

Lesia L.

CAREGiver of the Month
December 2010
We are proud to announce Lesia L. as our CAREGiver of the Month for December! It was unanimous! We regularly hear compliments about Lesia, what a resourceful person she is and what a great problem-solver. We hear that she brings levity and happiness in the door of each Client she sees. She is a pro-active person that looks for things to do so she can be most helpful during her visits. Whether she is providing companion services or is on an active home-helper shift, she makes great use of time and provides the special touches that makes her Clients know she appreciates being there!
THANK YOU LESIA for all your great work!

Sara G.

CAREGiver of the Month
November 2010
Sara has been with us three years and has met and served many Clients. She balances an active home-life with very reliable service to her Home Instead Clients. Of the many nice things that are said about her, the word "encouraging" comes up most frequently. Sara is inspiring to her Clients and helps them see they can be all they want to be and encourages them to try!
Most recently, Sara is working with a Client that is experimenting with an exercise class in the community. It is so much more interesting than her in-home exercise regime and Sara noticed how wonderful the social outlet is for her Client, too. We know she will encourage her Client to continue to attend and if anyone can get her to do it, it is Sara!
CONGRATULATIONS SARA!

Linda C.

CAREGiver of the Month
October 2010
We are proud to announce Linda C. as our CAREGiver of the Month for October.
Linda has shown such strength, excellent common sense and good judgement in some very trying times these past few months! It is never easy to see a Client to the very end nor is it easy to  help a Client through the grief of losing a Spouse. Linda has been through thick and thin with on of our client couples and has handled emergencies, orchestrated medical intervention and provided the most conscientious, heart-felt care one can imagine though some very difficult times. We know she always wants her Client to feel his/her best, to have a clean, safe and fun environment and to be as happy as possible. She is gentle and understanding, empathetic and comforting in these circumstances and is great at finding a perfect balance.
We commend you Linda for your amazing dedication and commitment to our clients!

Matt D.

CAREGiver of the Month
September 2010
We are very happy to put the spotlight on Matt D. this month. He has been with us since Feb, 2009 and in that time has served over 2,000 hours with about 8 Clients.
We always receive wonderful reports from the Clients, spouses and families that he serves. Matt is very friendly and dynamic, quick to laugh and has a great sense of humor.
As one of our more "colorful" CAREGivers, don't be surprised if you see him performing on a local stage acting or playing music.
Matt is very dedicated and reliable, even with his busy schedule. He is an excellent communicator and responsive to calls from the office. He is right on the ball with the required training and he keeps his information up-to-date.
CONGRATULATIONS Matt!!

Rebecca W.

CAREGiver of the Month
August 2010
Versatility is a strength and an assett. Confidence cannot be learned. It is a natural trait. To combine the two and add skills creates a CAREGiver that is capable and one that you are always proud to send and always assured will handle things the best way.
Rebecca recieves compliments from virtually every Client and family that she serves. She is a real team-player and her fellow CAREGivers recognize her as a person they can ask advice from and glean knowledge. We appreciate her every day!
CONGRATULATIONS REBECCA!

Mary D.

CAREGiver of the Month
July 2010
Mary has been with us a year and a half. She is such a delight to work with and a delight to her Clients! She is very capable and calm, with a sweet demeanor and ready smile. She is always willing to help out if at all possible, even with her busy personal life. Clients feel very safe with Mary. They know that whatever comes up, she can handle and she is a great person to talk with. 
Thanks for being such a great CAREGiver Mary! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Clara S.

CAREGiver of the Month
June 2010
If I can just quote the nominator, Karen F... "Her clients so very much appreciate the ray of sunshine she brings into their day. She always has something positive to say, and a desire from deep within to help others. She is dependable, willing to help in a pinch, and has a can-do attitude! She treats her clients with dignity and is sensitive to their needs. Need I say more?"
 
Congratulations, Clara. We knew from the first day we met you that you are a very special Lady with a great capacity for caring. As we've grown to know and love you these past 10 months, you have totally lived up to what you seemed to be from day one.
THANK YOU for all you do, Clara!

Kathy C.

CAREGiver of the Month
May 2010
One positive report after another prompted this award! Virtually every Client, spouse and family member raves about how caring Kathy is, how loving and wonderful she has been, how she goes above and beyond to provide the utmost in quality service. Some have used phrases like "godsend" and "blessing" when they speak of her. Kathy has been with us since October 2008. In the office, among the staff here, we find her to be gentle and soft-spoken. She is genuinely sweet and easy to be around. We appreciate how she pays attention to detail and we have heard on more than one occasion what an excellent cook she is!
CONGRATULATIONS KATHY!!!

Josie A.

CAREGiver of the Month
April 2010
Josie has been with us since February 2007. She has met quite a few clients, but served one special client from early 2008 until the client passed away this month. Since then, she has been out meeting other clients that are new to her and working on a regular schedule with a few. Josie is a caregiver that is full of love and kindness. She is very gently and makes her client and families feel deeply cared for. Her personality is warm and soft. Her quite voice and accent  are charming and she is very endearing. We really congratulate Josie this month and celebrate her as a fantastic  AREGiver, one that we can all look up to and aspire to be like.
THANK YOU JOSIE!!!

Sandy M.

CAREGiver of the Month
March 2010
After just celebrating a year as a Home Instead CAREGiver, Sandy has proven to be a natural in this field! Her previous work was as a business owner very focused on customer service and helping others. She has been described as a "hard worker" and Client Relations Manager Karen F. said Sandy "...is calm yet energetic and adapts as needed. " Sandy has done a stellar job in sometimes difficult circumstances and "always rallies."
CONGRATULATIONS SANDY!!!

Dee S.

CAREGiver of the Month
February 2010
Dee has worked as a CAREGiver with us since late 2008. Previously, she worked for insurance companies, dealing mostly with paper. Recently, she told me that sometimes people ask her how she can do this kind of work (as a CAREGiver). She told me, “Knowing that I can help somebody and make their day better is so much better and more rewarding than my previous work.” Recently, a client she served passed away and  I thanked her for sticking with her Client to the end as we know that is a very hard time. She said, “I always think of how I would like to be treated in my last days.”
THANK YOU DEE! YOUR ARE A NATURAL!!

Molly S.

CAREGiver of the Month

January 2010

In the 14 months that Mollie has been with us, she has shown herself to be a very decisive and adaptable CAREGiver. She is very committed to the Clients that she does choose to take on and is able to handle changing and evolving situations well. To quote CRM Karen F, “dependable, adept at working with clients with interesting situations, helps in a pinch, and working with an end of life client with such a wonderful outlook and attitude! Just a few things that come to my mind.”
THANK YOU MOLLIE! CONGRATULATIONS!

Meet the CAREGivers of the Year

Mei Newmann

Mei Newmann

CAREGiver of the Year 2011
Denver, Colorado

Mei Newmann loves her neighbor. Her motivation is nothing less than doing the best job she can for clients, watching their faces light up when she arrives and finding ways to enjoy their company. She’s also a lifelong learner who provides competent, compassionate care.
Read more on Home Instead Senior Care's corporate website

Lisa Barr Kazmierczak

Lisa Barr Kazmierczak

CAREGiver of the Year 2010
Wyomissing, Pennsylvania

Lisa Barr Kazmierczak saw eyelids flutter. Her client, who had vowed not to get out of bed that day, was curious. The client and CAREGiver had exchanged words that, had she believed them, would have broken Lisa's heart. Despite encouragement, the client refused to rise and shine. Lisa told her she would check again in 15 minutes, but the client told her not to bother.
Read more on Home Instead Senior Care's corporate Web site

Barbara Maxwell, CAREGiver of the Year 2009

Barbara Maxwell

CAREGiver of the Year 2009
Omaha, Nebraska

"I didn't want a job just for the sake of having a job. I wanted something I'd really love doing." So said Barbara Maxwell, West Region CAREGiver of the Year for 2009, about joining the Home Instead Senior Care Omaha Service Office in early 2006.
Read more on Home Instead Senior Care's corporate Web site

John Dutille, CAREGiver of the Year 2008

John Dutille

CAREGiver of the Year 2008
Wilmington, North Carolina

When asked why he decided to become a Home Instead CAREGiver, John Dutille of Wilmington, NC-the 2007 Mid-Atlantic Regional CAREGiver of the Year-said, "I've always done caregiving for friends and family members, so the job just fit me. Everything fell into place."
Read more on Home Instead Senior Care's corporate Web site

Gerry Rious, CAREGiver of the Year 2007

Gerry Rious

CAREGiver of the Year 2007
Lake Charles, Louisiana

"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."
Read more on Home Instead Senior Care's corporate Web site

Alec Rogers, CAREGiver of the Year 2006

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 on Home Instead Senior Care's corporate Web site

Jeanie Avilez, CAREGiver of the Year 2005

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 on Home Instead Senior Care's corporate Web site

Sandra Golden, CAREGiver of the Year 2004

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 on Home Instead Senior Care's corporate Web site

Jane Travis, CAREGiver of the Year 2003

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 on Home Instead Senior Care's corporate Web site

Helena Hickson, CAREGiver of the Year 2002

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 on Home Instead Senior Care's corporate Web site

Charles Ripley, CAREGiver of the Year 2001

Charles Ripley

CAREGiver of the Year 2001
Des Moines, Iowa

A good deed led Charles Ripley of Des Moines, 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 on Home Instead Senior Care's corporate Web site