Care Professional of the Month

It’s true: You can earn a PhD in “Happiness Studies” at an American university in New Jersey. But it feels as if Shay Wetzel is working on her own comparable doctorate as an award-winning Care Professional at Home Instead^® of Louisville, Colorado. Shay has observed nearly every aspect of the human condition since she began serving seniors as a Care Pro. “What I value most is the education in humanity,” Shay said. “Caregiving is immersive, in which I learn through direct experience, through conversation and through silence.”

“I’ve stepped into people’s homes, routines, vulnerabilities and histories. Each shift has expanded my understanding of what caregiving truly means. This is not just a job, it’s relational and intimate, and it requires presence in a way few professions do,” explained Shay, who was honored as the Care Pro of the Month for March at the Home Instead franchise that serves Boulder and Broomfield Counties as well as northwest Adams County.

“Caregiving allows me to practice being fully present with another person, not distracted, not rushing, but attuned. That presence strengthens my ability to connect authentically. It refines my patience, empathy and emotional awareness. This field doesn’t just allow me to give care, it shapes me into a more conscious and compassionate person. Truly.”

By all accounts, it’s a great fit: Sierra Lastine and Home Instead^® of Louisville, Colorado. Sierra’s adoration of her grandmother figured heavily in her job pursuit at the award-winning agency and Sierra’s subsequent February honor as the franchise’s Care Professional of the Month. “My relationship with my grandmother shaped my respect for maintaining dignity and independence as people age, and showed me how meaningful a simple presence can be,” said Sierra, who joined Home Instead in September 2025.

“My grandmother and I are very close,” Sierra explained. “She was a nurse all her life, but she always wanted to be an artist. She taught me to paint and draw when I was a kid. Growing up, I spent a lot of time with older family members and friends, which gave me an early appreciation for the wisdom and humor that come with age. While I was not a full-time family caregiver, I often supported older relatives through visits, errands and companionship.”

Describing her first six months with Home Instead, Sierra said: “It has been a very meaningful and grounding experience.”

She added: “I found Home Instead while looking for work that felt purposeful and relational. I have always valued connection across generations, and I was drawn to the mission of helping older adults remain safe and independent in their homes. The idea of building true relationships, rather than just providing care, really resonated with me. From the beginning, the team felt supportive and aligned with those values.”

When the door opens, a voice sometimes engages Michelle Powers with “Hi, Sunshine!” and a quick smile. Or sometimes the smile comes with “Hi, Sweet Pea!” Or through an ear-to-ear grin, there’s a “Hi, Peanut.” Those are times when the Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month’s smiles meet her kind eyes in a reciprocal greeting. Michelle explained, “When clients greet me with those nicknames as I walk through the door, that always makes me smile.”

Those experiences have been a part of Michelle’s life for the past year and a half with the award-winning Home Instead franchise that serves Boulder and Broomfield Counties and northwest Adams County. Using Indeed.com during her job search, Michelle discovered owner Michael Lammers’ Home Instead office in Louisville, Colorado, and found a good job fit.

“When investigating Home Instead, what stood out to me was how well the flexible scheduling worked with my nursing school commitments. Working for Home Instead has been a meaningful experience and has helped me realize that, as a future nurse, I may want to pursue hospice nursing professionally. The hands-on care and connections with clients have really confirmed my passion for this field,” Michelle explained.

Home Instead^® Care Professional Kristin Fields is a Renaissance woman whose piano-playing acumen fascinates a client. In addition to excelling in music and senior care, the Care Pro of the Month’s education includes degrees from St. Olaf College in Minnesota (Music and Psychology); University of Colorado in Boulder (Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences Master of Science); and Yale University (RN, Master of Science in Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing). While that’s an impressive résumé, it’s Kristin’s piano skills and empathy that captivate her client.

“During this holiday season,” Kristin explained, “my client has been singing along with the religious and popular tunes as I play them on the piano in her living room. After one such afternoon, I finished playing and turned to look at her. ‘Pass the hat!’ she responded, clapping her hands and smiling.”

That memory will live forever in Kristin’s compassionate heart. “Those moments of connection, humor and warmth are the best of what life has to give,” Kristin said. “I am grateful to have the chance to be a part of it all.”

Kristin added: “The woman with whom I am working, although struggling with aphasia, is full of witticisms and one-off comments with hidden gems of wisdom and humor.” Aphasia is a language disorder from brain damage (possibly a stroke or injury) that impairs speaking, understanding, reading and writing, but doesn't affect intelligence.

Home Instead^® Care Professional Jackie Deall had bottomed out in one of the deepest valleys of her life. The three-time Care Pro of the Month at Home Instead of Louisville, Colorado, was sad because she had lost a longtime client with whom she had built a special bond. “I love my clients, but she was the best client ever. I had built quite a relationship with her. We could talk for hours and hours,” Jackie recalled.

But Jackie’s low point wasn’t a totally emotional one. “When she passed away, I went through a really tough time. I had four surgeries on my left foot, a continuing episode that has been a nightmare. Coupled with the loss of my client and facing a prolonged recovery, I debated on whether to return to professional senior care,” added Jackie, one of the most honored Care Pros in the Home Instead franchise’s 25-year history with monthly awards in July 2020, October 2022 and November 2025.

“Director of Home Care Operations Melinda Pfanstiel took me under her wing, and we had many talks. I took time off to take care of myself. Melinda and the entire Home Instead office staff had my back. Melinda is amazing, and so is the office. They are good people,” Jackie explained. “In that time, I relearned how to walk. I had time to think and reflect. I missed my clients and was ready to give back to society and help seniors. So, I’ve been back for a short time. I am 68, but I am not ready to retire. Caregiving is part of who I am. It is something I need to do,” Jackie said.

Home Instead^® Care Professional of the Month Sydney Eubank will never forget her final weekend with a unique client before she passed away.

“The client had been a professional singer and actress. I received the opportunity to take her to a recital for which I helped her practice. We would do vocal warmups and practice her music after breakfast every day,” Sydney recalled.  

The client told Sydney, “I want to be ‘sparkly’ for my recital.” So, Sydney and her client dug through her closet. Sydney explained: “She had a rhinestone-covered jacket and leggings with rhinestones that would do just that – sparkle – and she sparkled incredibly that day and sang beautifully.”

Sydney added: “It was amazing to see someone who was in her 90s continue to do the things she loved until the very end of her life. I couldn’t think of a better thing to help someone accomplish. While that is one of my favorite stories, all clients are so unique and so incredible. I have a place in my heart for every long-term client, every client for whom I fill in and every client somewhere in between.” 

The memories have unfolded nonstop since April 2025, when Sydney joined owner Michael Lammers’ award-winning Home Instead franchise that serves Boulder, Broomfield and northwest Adams Counties and is based in Louisville, Colorado.

Home Instead^® Care Professional of the Month Joey Delamater unexpectedly found a perfect rhythm with one of his clients, a man in his 90s. “He plays drums with me!” Joey exclaimed.

When Joey first met the client, it was for two fill-in shifts, and nothing more had been scheduled.  But that changed. Joey recalled: “On our second shift together, I brought my djembe (African hand drum) to show him, and I played it for him. I let him play it too, and I could tell he was in tune with exploring the dynamics of different subtle sounds you can play.”

Joey added: “He got so excited that he bought his own djembe and put in a request to Home Instead for me to come every week so we could play drums together! Now he has his own high quality djembe, a darbuka (a Middle Eastern hand drum) and a melodic steel drum.”

Often during their time together, Joey and his client will play for the entire 30 minutes. “It really enlivens the mood for us and gets us into a very creative zone. It is really inspiring to see a man in his 90s pick up a new instrument and get so involved with it. We get very experimental and exploratory with our playing, so it never gets old,” Joey said.

Malina Dorchak worked for 30 successful years as a Social Worker who served primarily in the child welfare system but also spent valuable time in the adult-protection division. “After retirement,” Malina said, “I figured out pretty quickly I needed to keep busy.” She worked at three jobs before landing with Home Instead^® of Louisville, Colorado. That’s where she was honored as the franchise’s Care Professional of the Month after six months on the job.

During her stint with adult protection, Malina discovered her love of working with the senior population. “Through my Social Work experience,” she said, “I was able to develop skills to use while working with people one-on-one. For instance, I meet people where they are at emotionally and constantly ensure safety. I find I must be able to think on my feet quickly at times with clients, and my background has allowed me to come up with quick ‘next steps.’ ”

Following retirement, Malina first found a job in a small senior-care agency, where she provided in-home caregiving as she reconnected with the elderly population. “Unfortunately,” Malina said, “the company closed three months after I started. I went into the funeral industry, which was a whole new experience of working with people. When COVID-19 hit in 2020, I lost that job.”

Annalise Large was searching for a flexible job that would permit her to spend more time with her son, who is now almost 2. She struck gold with Home Instead^® of Boulder, Broomfield and northwest Adams Counties by finding a position at the award-winning Colorado franchise that has honored her as its Care Professional of the Month for July.

Annalise explained her employment situation: “As a licensed hairstylist, I have been doing hairstyling for eight years. For two of those years, I ran my own business. I had my son, and I decided to go from being an owner to being a part-time employee at another hair salon. I wasn’t making enough money as an owner because I had lost a lot of my client base during my maternity leave. Then I decided to look for something more consistent. I wanted a job I’d love.”

Annalise searched online and found the Home Instead office in Louisville. “I saw their posting, and it said ‘non-medical’ and ‘no experience required.’ I went for it and was so eager for a reply. When I heard back from Home Instead three days later – on a Monday – I went into Home Instead, trained that week and had clients the next week,” said Annalise, who joined owner Mike Lammers’ franchise May 23, 2024.

It was Annalise’s first venture into professional caregiving. She also doesn’t have a background in caregiving with elderly family members, but her grandmother made a big impression at reunions and holidays when Annalise was young. “My grandma was a nurse, so at family gatherings, she would always check our blood pressure and oxygen levels,” Annalise recalled. 

It was an emotional day when a hanky or Kleenex box might have come in handy for Pam Duncan. During a poignant moment for the Home Instead^® Care Professional of the Month, her client unexpectedly dropped in four memorable words during their conversation. Pam recalled: “My client asked how we should view our relationship, and I responded by saying: ‘friends.’ She responded: ‘No, more like sisters.’ That really warmed my heart.”

Pam further explained: “The client lives in a memory care facility. We have built a great friendship and enjoy a lot of mutual things we like to do together. Those activities include walking, some hiking, driving through the mountains and eating ice cream. We also play with dogs brought into her facility and those outside of her residence.”

Assisting a person who lives with dementia is not a foreign experience for Pam, who first joined Home Instead of Louisville, Colorado, 11 years ago. “I took care of each of my parents for a period of time near the end of their lives. I cherished our times of fun, when my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and my dad had another form of dementia. We especially enjoyed going for drives, picnics and walks outside in their wheelchairs together,” Pam said.

Before Deb Palmer joined the award-winning Home Instead^® franchise in Louisville, Colorado, she had owned a successful house-cleaning business for 20 years. There were several reasons that influenced Deb to change jobs and find a fulfilling path that led to her Professional of the Month honor at Home Instead six months later.

“What made me consider my retirement from my self-employed status and my move to Home Instead was that my clientele’s need had gone from cleaning for random folks to serving aging seniors. For 15 years, I served seniors who wanted a clean house but couldn’t do it themselves. It was more than a cleaning service, it was a ministry for me. I prayed with them, brought them homemade soup and meals, and helped them outside the scope of cleaning when they needed it,” Deb explained.

During her cleaning business, Deb had one client for 20 years and served the rest of her clients for at least 10 to 15 years. One client, Thelma, was 84 when Deb started cleaning for her. Thelma had suffered a broken collarbone while playing tennis, and she needed help around the house. Deb said: “That’s when I came into Thelma’s life. I went from housekeeper to caregiver when she was 95. I had earned her trust. Then, when she fell and broke her femur bone, she needed someone to be with her more.”

For Veronica Castro, the spring of 2025 will be memorable for years to come. For one, that’s when she delivered a beautiful baby girl – on April 15 – to be exact. Two weeks earlier, Home Instead^® of Louisville, Colorado, had honored Veronica as its Care Professional of the Month.

With baby Ana Valentina’s time nearing, Veronica stayed with her Home Instead client and assisted him up to her last possible day. Home Instead Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Brenda Munro explained: “Veronica has a special relationship with a client. She helped him six days a week. Because Veronica is so close with him, she remained with him much longer than she had planned before going on maternity leave.”

Brenda added: “Veronica has been with our Home Instead office for only eight months, but she is truly one of a kind. She has a huge, bubbly personality, and our clients love her. We want her to take as much time as she needs, but we can’t wait for our Care Pro to return.” Offering even more praise for Veronica, Brenda noted: “Veronica displays Home Instead’s guiding principles of ‘Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.’ She has gone above and beyond the call of duty and is exceptional at her work with any client.”