Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Joey Delamater feels as if he’s in the right place in his life, doing exactly what he wants to be doing. “My work as a Home Instead Care Pro is in line with my heart, and I feel a strong sense of purpose in which I did not tap in my past experiences with other work,” Joey explained.
Joey has done lots of odd jobs – mostly labor – such as product-packing jobs for online businesses, moving jobs, event setup and event staff work. Joey also worked as a restaurant prep cook and on a food truck, where he served as a line cook and took orders. Even more, Joey has landscaped in Boulder County, including the Boulder and Louisville areas.
Why was Joey drawn to owner Michael Lammers’ award-winning Home Instead franchise in Louisville that serves Boulder, Broomfield and northwest Adams Counties?
“I had family caregiving experience when I looked after my grandma as one of her primary caregivers for about a year’s time when I was 18 and 19 before she passed away. I felt really drawn toward that work in a professional capacity during recent years. At the start of 2025, I decided it was time to seek that out,” recalled Joey, who joined Home Instead in January.
Assisting his grandmother profoundly affected Joey, and his family caregiving story is a compelling one.
“My grandmother and I were always really close, so caregiving for her felt very natural. She was my only grandparent who was alive in my lifetime, and our deep connection was such that it felt as if it made up for missing any other potential relationships. I spent lots of time with her, and did things such as cook her food, take her for activities in town, at the senior center or out in nature. I’d also get her ready for bed, and just do all sorts of daily tasks,” Joey said.
Joey’s grandmother was diagnosed with dementia in her 80s, and the neurodegenerative disease “progressed fairly far in her later years.” Joey explained: “Sometimes my grandmother became very disoriented and upset. I took the time to sit with her, talk and help her calm down. I developed all sorts of techniques to redirect her or comfort her. I learned to be accepting of her mental state, and meet her there, rather than feel too upset about it. It was what it was, and I found the best way to alleviate her confusion was to keep myself in a positive state and share that attitude with her.”
Joey added: “I had the privilege of spending her last week with her, sharing a room with her while she was in transition. It felt like I was in a very sacred space. I learned a lot about what the transition can be like. It felt like there was a lot of wisdom within the journey if I could remain quiet enough and feel it all with an open heart. To this day, I feel that her spirit has my back.”
After his caregiving experience with his grandmother, Joey sensed that he wanted to do more senior care. “I didn’t start working for Home Instead for maybe four years after my grandma passed away. However, all through those years, I maintained the intention to find my way into the field at some point or other,” he said.
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (720) 890-0184 or homeinstead.com/397.
