 Brenda L. - CAREGiver of the Month January 2013 When Brenda joined our family of CAREGivers in January, 2011, she was looking forward to working one on one with her clients. Having been a CAREGiver for many years already, she was excited to get to know her clients as individuals and find ways to make their daily lives more special. Brenda is a steady and dependable worker who truly believes in the respect that we all should have for each other, and she shows that by how she handles each assignment she has been given. Her concern for others became quite clear during a recent snow: Brenda had driven to her client’s home and had planned to work her assignment, as usual, even though the weather was getting worse by the minute. After arriving to the client’s neighborhood, Brenda quickly realized that the snow and ice were too treacherous for her car to make it any further. So, Brenda parked at the bottom of a steep hill and walked—or should we say, “climbed”—the rest of the way to the client’s home. Even though she had to trudge through the snow, Brenda was determined that her client receive the care she needed that day. Because of Brenda’s steadfast determination to put her clients’ needs first, we are happy to nominate her as CAREGiver of the month for January, 2013.   Ron L. - CAREGiver of the Month February 2013 Ron walked in the door with a big, happy grin on his face when he became a part of the Home Instead team in October, 2012, and he hasn’t stopped smiling since. His dedication to his clients is undeniably strong as he works to ensure that their daily needs are thoroughly accomplished. Ron’s heart is just as big, if not bigger than, his grin, and he shows it by his willingness to do whatever he is asked. From driving long distances, to taking short or long shifts, to working in conditions which may not be ideal, Ron takes it all to heart and gives his heart away to his clients. Last fall, Ron stepped up to the plate by taking a client to local Friday night football games: not an easy task, since his client required an extra amount of loving care. But, Ron did it—happily—and the family could not have been more thrilled with his devotion to them. Ron is just one of those people who doesn’t give up when faced with a challenge; instead, he finds a way to make it work. Because of the profoundly positive impact Ron has on his clients’ lives, we are proud to nominate him as CAREGiver of the month for February, 2013.
 Ruth M. - March 2013 Ruth joined the Home Instead family of CAREGivers in June, 2012, and brings with her the expertise of caring for many throughout her life. When we think of Ruth, the first thing that comes to mind is her ability to get her clients involved in life again. Ruth enjoys making crafts, so she brings her “crafty” ideas with her to her clients’ homes. Ruth refuses to allow her client to mark her days doing nothing just because she can’t do what she used to any more; instead, they fill their hours making crafts and playing games. Recently, for St. Patrick’s Day, Ruth planned a “treasure hunt” for her client to enjoy by hiding surprises and clues throughout her client’s home. At the end of the hunt—after her client had successfully found all the clues—they enjoyed a special snack together. Ruth’s steady deter-mination and positive attitude give her clients a renewed sense of fulfill-ment for their lives. Because of Ruth’s unrelentingly dedication to ensuring her clients feel important and useful, we are pleased to nominate her as CAREGiver of the month for March, 2013.  Kathy C. - April 2013 CAREGiver of the Month Kathy is just one of those people with a “can-do” attitude—always willing to help and always willing to go the extra mile. Those qualities were easy to see the moment she joined the Home Instead family of CAREGivers in October 2010. Caregiving seems to come naturally to Kathy. Her pleasant personality and her infectious smile quickly let her clients know that they are in very capable hands. Her compassion for her clients and the joy she gets out of being a CAREGiver shine through so clearly that her clients just feel comfortable being around her. Kathy has a gift for solving problems; so, she has often been the “go-to” CAREGiver in many difficult situations because she is definitely capable of doing her job well. What’s really fun to watch is when she takes those challenging situations and turns them around to the positive. Without smothering her clients and by respecting their dignity and personal space, Kathy uses her abilities to adapt to each person’s unique situation and then finding a way to make it work. No wonder her clients love her so much! And, that’s why we’re happy to nominate her as CAREGiver of the Month for April, 2013. |
