Home Instead Itasca, IL Featured Care Professional of the Month

Eric: Giving 100 Percent Every Single Day

Eric brings a wealth of experience and a truly profound perspective to the Home Instead team, having dedicated nearly ten years of his life to the caregiving profession. His journey into this field was inspired by a deeply personal history of looking after his mother and his grandfather. Through those experiences, Eric began to look at aging through a lens of deep empathy, resolving to treat every client with the exact same level of support and dignity he hopes someone will provide for him when it is his turn to be cared for. When first meeting a client, Eric’s immediate goal is to establish a sense of mutual comfort. He believes in entering every home with complete optimism and a commitment to giving 100 percent of his energy and attention every single day. This personal principle stems from his understanding that tomorrow is never guaranteed, making it essential to do his absolute best for his clients right now. He treats his clients like family, always prepared to adjust his approach to meet their specific needs. Drawing on an extensive background in care—which includes specialized work with hospice clients and managing complex needs in California before moving to Illinois—Eric is remarkably attentive and challenge-oriented. Rather than seeing difficult situations as a burden, he approaches them as opportunities to find a creative solution. He knows exactly how to read a room and evaluate a client's needs from the moment he walks in, ensuring they feel secure and cared for.

Beyond typical daily care, Eric values the genuine connections and mutual learning that take place with his clients. He fondly recalls a time when a former client took him under his wing to teach him about the stock market, treating him not just as a caregiver, but as a true friend and peer. Even in challenging moments, such as supporting clients with dementia, Eric focuses on finding shared happiness and keeping a smile on both of their faces. Eric has had a wonderfully positive experience with the leadership team at Home Instead and is happy with the support he has received since moving to the area. His message to anyone considering a career as a Care Professional is built on his foundational philosophy: imagine yourself in the client's position in the future. He encourages new caregivers to always give their best and to work with pure intention, because that is the energy that truly lifts a senior's day.

Mazeedat: Listening with the Heart and Soul

For Mazeedat, stepping into a client's home is not just a job—it is a continuation of a deeply personal mission that began with her own family. Her journey as a caregiver started when her mother became ill. Seeing that her mother was uncomfortable with outside help, Mazeedat decided to take on the care herself, discovering immense joy in the moments her efforts brought a light to her mother's face. Through this, she realized that providing this kind of comfort was her true calling, promising herself to keep doing it whenever the opportunity arose. Before joining the Home Instead team, Mazeedat worked in facility settings while living in Canada. Though she appreciated the work, she found the environment overwhelming and realized that one-on-one home care was where her passion truly lived. When she moved to the United States, she followed in the footsteps of her daughter—who had also worked for the franchise before pursuing a nursing career—and joined the team to focus entirely on personalized home care. Mazeedat understands that building a relationship with a new client requires time, observation, and immense patience. Recognizing that clients may initially be uncomfortable with someone new in their space, she focuses on building trust first. She gives them the space they need, stepping back when necessary and returning later to complete tasks. This respectful approach has allowed her to build beautiful bonds, to the point where she now views her clients as an extension of her own family. She brings an infectious energy to her shifts, encouraging her clients to stay active, keep smiling, and feel truly alive. Her gift for deep empathy and non-verbal communication has allowed her to navigate some of caregiving's most challenging moments. Having cared for her mother when she could no longer speak, Mazeedat learned to read subtle signs and body language to understand her needs. She now applies that same intuition to her clients at Home Instead. In one touching instance, she noticed a client was uncomfortable and agitated. Drawing on her past experiences, Mazeedat correctly interpreted the client's non-verbal cues, realizing she wanted to use the restroom instead of her protective garment. Attending to her client's dignity in that moment brought a rewarding smile of relief to the woman's face. Mazeedat’s passion for helping others has inspired her to continue growing, and she is taking steps to go back to school to further her education in the medical field. She constantly watches and learns from the visiting nurses and therapists she encounters, eager to absorb as much knowledge as possible. Her advice to anyone with a heart for this work is to take the leap and do it, noting that the opportunities for learning and personal growth are endless.

Mariia: A Journey of Healing and Heart

Mariia brings a unique and profound perspective to the Home Instead team, having joined the franchise in 2024 as her first professional role in the United States. Originally a psychologist in Ukraine, Mariia moved to the U.S. three years ago and sought a career that would allow her to continue her life's work of helping people. For Mariia, caregiving felt like a natural extension of her background in psychology, as both roles require a deep understanding of the human spirit and a desire to provide comfort. Working as a Care Professional has been a cornerstone of Mariia’s transition to life in America, and she expresses deep gratitude to Home Instead for the opportunity to serve her community. She views her role not just as a job, but as a chance to truly "feel" what her clients need, especially when they are facing difficult days or health challenges. Mariia believes that a good caregiver must be able to sense a client’s mood and adjust their care to bring a sense of peace and healing to the home. One of the most rewarding aspects of the journey for Mariia is the bond she forms with her clients, whom she treats with the same respect and attention she would give to her own family members. She finds immense satisfaction in knowing that her presence can help a client feel less like a stranger and more like a cherished friend. Mariia’s advice to those entering the field is to approach every task with a sincere heart, noting that clients can always feel the difference when care is provided with genuine intent.

Angela: Changing Lives with a Genuine Heart

Angela M. joined the Home Instead team in July 2024 with a deep understanding that caregiving is about far more than just completing a checklist of tasks. For Angela, the role is defined by the opportunity to change lives and provide comfort during a person's most vulnerable moments. She views her work as a hands-on, rewarding opportunity to be a
steady presence for her clients, emphasizing that "you don't know how long they have, "which makes every moment of connection precious.

In her daily work, Angela focuses on being fully involved in her clients' lives rather than just doing things "for" them. She believes that when a Care Pro is genuinely engaged in a
client's daily activities, the client can feel that the person truly cares. This commitment to being a "genuine person" allows her to build trust and provide a level of physical and
emotional support that she describes as an amazing opportunity for anyone in the field.

The heart of Angela’s approach is rooted in patience and empathy. She encourages other prospective Care Professionals to use their hearts and to take the time to ask their clients
questions, truly getting to know who they are as individuals. For Angela, the most fulfilling part of her journey with Home Instead is knowing that she is providing genuine comfort and making a lasting impact on the families she serves.

Priscilla: Leading with a Loving Heart

Priscilla B. believes in the power of giving, a philosophy she inherited from her parents and now brings to every Home Instead client she serves. Since joining the team in June 2024, Priscilla has approached her role with a sense of "fate," stepping into the caregiving world after a 21-year career in a different industry. For her, this work is deeply personal; having lost her father in 2016, she uses her time with clients to honor his memory and prepare herself for the future care of her own mother

Managing a diverse group of clients, Priscilla finds her greatest reward in the simple moment she walks through a door and hears her name called out. She thrives on seeing
the joy on her clients' faces, knowing she is providing the emotional support they might not be receiving elsewhere. The bonds she forms are so strong that her clients often greet her with hugs, and Priscilla admits that when a client passes away, it feels like losing a piece of her own family.

Life with Priscilla is often filled with rhythm and soul. She loves to put on music and get her clients, and even their families, up and dancing. She believes that no matter what is
happening in the world, there is always a reason to smile and move. Her time as a Care Pro has taught her to appreciate every day and to treat everyone with the kindness she hopes to receive when it is her turn to be cared for. Her message to anyone considering this path is simple and enthusiastic: "Just do it," because the love you give always finds its way back to you.

Home Instead^® Care Professional of the Month Cecilia A. had a close-up view of a fairy tale marriage that had withstood the test of time and was still going strong for a 98-year-old husband and his 88-year-old wife. The Army veteran was Cecilia’s first client when she started with Kelly Hutchison’s award-winning Home Instead franchise in Itasca, Illinois, a year ago.

Effusive in describing her client, Cecilia recalled: “Every day when I prepared his breakfast, he told his wife, ‘I love you.’ He was so in love with her. She liked his attention and would say, ‘I love you, too.’ I worked from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekends, and I’d venture to say he told his wife ‘I love you’ at least a hundred times during the two months I was assisting him.”

Cecilia added: “He was so nice and respectful. He never complained. He was a sweet guy. His sister came on weekends, and they played dominoes. He had such a good personality and was sharp. I have learned a lot from my clients. I want to get to know my clients.”

Days after Care Professional of the Month Shiela Mae C. joined Home Instead^® of Itasca, Illinois, on April 25, 2023, she received an unfamiliar challenge – Shiela began assisting a client living with dementia. Now, nearly two years later, Shiela savors her time with Ms. M.

“To be honest,” Shiela explained, “I had had no previous experience with caring for someone who is living with dementia, but I am grateful for the support and encouragement the office staff  and a fellow Care Pro gave me. In my client’s situation, I first established a rapport with the other Care Pro and was able to learn about the client’s needs. I picked up tactics for meeting those needs. We collaborated as a team.”

Shiela and other Itasca Care Pros are offered the opportunity to increase their dementia-care skills by taking part in the Home Instead network’s one-of-a-kind training protocol. Home Instead’s Person-Centered Care Training for Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias is recognized by the Alzheimer’s Association^® for incorporating the evidence-based dementia-care practice recommendations in these topic areas: Alzheimer’s and dementia, person-centered care, assessment and care planning, activities of daily living, and behaviors and communication.

Shiela said: “In general, we all know caring for a client living with dementia can be challenging. It requires extra understanding, love, compassion and lots of patience. My client is amazing. She occasionally exhibits sharpness and a good heart. I keep her entertained by singing, dancing and helping her with coloring. I play her music on CDs or Alexa whenever she has a challenging episode. My client is a talented woman who can play the guitar, record her own music and had previously quilted. She is unique and has a kind heart. I do everything I can to take care of her.”

Diana P. is committed to caregiving excellence because to her, it is personal. Diana is a devoted family caregiver, and she is an award-winning Care Professional with Home Instead^® of Itasca, Illinois. “I’ve moved back in with my mother. She became my dependent as she aged, and I am her caregiver,” Diana explained. “Even more, as a family caregiver, I babysat my nephew. Later, I adopted him because of unfortunate circumstances, and he is a great nephew.” 

Given her family responsibilities, Diana landed a part-time job eight years ago with an accommodating company, Home Instead. Diana recalled putting her résumé online while searching for a second job. “Eventually,” she said, “a headhunter called me. I was set up with an interview with Home Instead and was hired.”

Diana added: “Working for Home Instead turned out to be a good fit for me. As my own circumstances continue to change, Home Instead is able to be flexible with my schedule. Working for Home Instead also opened me up to mastering a different level of skills than I had previously possessed. You learn and gain experience while you give respect and dignity to those whom you assist.”

Four months after Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Maria M. had begun helping a client in his 90s, he contracted COVID-19 at a rehabilitation facility and died last May. “It was a shock to all of us. He was really nice, a very loving man. I want to keep his memory in my heart. Deep inside my heart, I want to see my clients’ smiles, and his smile shined brightly,” Maria said.

Observing her client and his wife, Maria witnessed the conclusion of a long-running love story. “He and his wife had been together for 72 years and had met when they were about 20 years old. Every day, he always would be saying cute things to her like, ‘How are you, beautiful?’ To him, his wife always had been beautiful. I told his wife, ‘I wish I had someone like your husband,’ ” Maria said. “The wife did not become my client until after her husband died.”

The client’s widow felt a bond with Maria and asked her to stay as her only Care Pro. “She wants just me, which makes me feel good. She is doing pretty well, and I am with her for four-hour shifts. While her husband had signs of dementia, she has no memory problems,” Maria explained. “Family members drop in to visit every other day. They live five minutes away. I provide them with peace of mind. I am busy when I am there.”

Home Instead^® Training Coordinator Jackie Washburn smiled broadly when she read a client’s Care Professional of the Month nomination for Barbara Z., who later was selected as the franchise’s January honoree. The client wrote:

“I want to tell you about Barbara Z. She is caring and funny, and goes beyond the call of duty while covering all of the bases. For example, I don’t have any family. So, for Thanksgiving, she brought me flowers, homemade soup, cake and candy. Throughout the warmer months, she brought me cucumbers-turned-into-pickles and tomatoes from her garden. She has prepared her native Polish dish of pierogi for me and more. I would like to nominate her for Care Pro of the Month!”

“How touching!” Jackie said. “Barbara is a very special Care Pro of the Month honoree to kick off our New Year at Itasca. In addition to the client’s nomination for Barbara, our staff can tell you that Barbara is very well-received wherever she goes. She is personable, compassionate and genuinely kind. I look forward to seeing her whenever our paths might cross. She told me that, ‘This is not my work, this is my life!’ ”

A year ago in December, Nataliia was in the depths of despair. The 35-year-old Ukrainian native had arrived in the United States in the summer of 2023 and desperately needed a job. Enter Home Instead^® of Itasca, Illinois, where Nataliia unexpectedly found a warm Christmas spirit.

Nataliia set the scene by explaining: “I had filled out a form on the Indeed.com jobs website, but none of the job offers suited me. I had already lost hope. But as you know, Christmas time is a magical time. This is the time when dreams come true.”

They certainly did for Nataliia.

Home Instead Human Resources Manager Alina Merrill called Nataliia and invited her to an interview. Nataliia admitted: “I went to the interview without much hope. I was pleasantly surprised by the general office atmosphere. Everyone was so polite and pleasant, so patient with my fractured English. And surprisingly, I was hired. Words cannot describe how happy I was.”

Nataliia had become a Home Instead Care Professional at owner Kelly Hutchison’s award-winning franchise. The humble, self-deprecating former science teacher cleared every caregiving hurdle while receiving a crash course in the English language and American culture. Then Nataliia was honored as Home Instead’s Care Pro of the Month for December 2024.

In November 2023, Doris was encouraged to apply for a Care Professional position at owner Kelly Hutchison’s award-winning Home Instead^® franchise in Itasca, Illinois. One year later, Home Instead Training Coordinator Jackie Washburn announced Doris had been honored as the franchise’s Care Pro of the Month.

Before arriving at Home Instead, Doris had never worked in professional senior care. While figuratively traveling “from zero to 65” to adeptly embrace her job and its challenges, Doris credited the discovery of her fulfilling job to her daughter, who works full time as an accountant in the Chicago area.

Doris explained: “My daughter took me to this Home Instead office to apply. She said I would like the job. She had worked part time for a different Home Instead franchise. She was working on her master’s degree at the same time and found that being a Care Pro was perfect for her. Now I know why. Even though we have worked for different offices, I found that my Home Instead office also is made up of good people. What I like most about my job is the way the Home Instead staff does things for us and communicates well. I love them all, everybody.”

In October 2023, life was moving torturously fast for Yasmin. Her husband of nine years, who held down two jobs so Yasmin could stay at home with their 8-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son, returned to Mexico to finish his U.S. immigration process. Caught off-guard, Yasmin needed a job quickly, and not just any job. She needed a flexible employer so she could take her children to school as well as coordinate their return and home care.

Enter owner Kelly Hutchison’s award-winning Home Instead^® franchise in Itasca, Illinois. “When I was looking online for jobs, Home Instead came up on my screen.  When I sent my contact information, they asked me to come to the office the very next day. When I arrived, I spoke to a kind lady and explained my situation and the need for flexible work hours. I said, ‘Please work with me,’ ” Yasmin recalled.

On Nov. 1, 2023, Yasmin joined Home Instead as a Care Professional, and 11 months later she was honored as the franchise’s Care Pro of the Month. “Senior care is nothing new for me. In my culture, we help elderly family members; we never leave them. When I was growing up, we were together all the time, all of the generations together. I assisted my grandmother and grandfather. It is heartbreaking to see seniors who are lonely and struggling to live on their own. So, there is a real need for Home Instead,” Yasmin said.  

Near the end of a conversation about her position with Home Instead® of Itasca, Illinois, Care Professional of the Month Jennet wanted to make one thing clear: “I am not looking to go anywhere else to work. Relationships mean too much to me.”

Jennet paused for a moment and added: “I am happy with my client. From my heart and soul, I try to assist him to the very best of my ability.”

And to think, her current client, a widower, was not originally Jennet’s client – his late wife was. “The husband made sure I knew that he wanted me to focus on his wife,” recalled Jennet, who joined owner Kelly Hutchison’s award-winning Home Instead® franchise July 27, 2023. “His wife needed the help, but I included her husband where I could with things such as meals and other forms of assistance. It just made sense and was good manners. They both liked my meals. They were family.”

“I am Filipina, with a big dream.”

With seven impactful words, Wanna made a dynamic first impression on Home Instead® franchise owner Kelly Hutchison. As a result, Kelly helped Wanna take big steps toward achieving several of her goals by hiring her as a Care Professional on May 5, 2023, for his franchise in Itasca, Illinois. “Home Instead is the one who provided me with the opportunity to work here in United States,” Wanna said.

During her career in her native Philippines, Wanna worked extensively in home care and assisted living facilities. She explained: “I have assisted clients with personal care, medication management and companionship. I approach caregiving with empathy and compassion, ensuring that each client receives personalized care tailored to his or her needs. I am committed to upholding the highest care standards and am always seeking opportunities to expand my knowledge. I’m passionate about making a meaningful difference in my clients’ lives. I had looked forward to bringing my skills and dedication to the entire Home Instead team.”

Raynuel arrived at just the right time for his Home Instead® client.

The 97-year-old client had seen a number of Care Professionals come and go before Raynuel was sent to the client in July 2023. “A lot of Care Pros had tried to work with him before I went. I am the only one who has consistently stayed. We bonded and have a good relationship,” said Raynuel, who joined Kelly Hutchison’s award-winning Home Instead franchise in Itasca, Illinois, in May 2023.

Raynuel described his client, Mr. C., as a “very good man.” For four days a week, Raynuel serves as a live-in Care Pro for Mr. C. The widower lives alone. He has a daughter and a son who lead busy lives.

It cannot be discounted as a coincidence that Mr. C.’s health has improved since Raynuel came to assist him. “He’s a tough man,” Raynuel said, “but he had been very sick when I arrived. He was weak from a UTI. We changed a few things, including his meals. His primary challenge simply is ‘old age.’ He is blind in one eye, and I help him with personal care, but I generally am happy with how he is doing. He had his bad days and his good days, but we all do.”

Little did Care Professional of the Month Jane know more than a year ago, she would have a divine appointment to assist a faith-based lady for the final 11 months of her life. Referring to her Home Instead^® client, Jane revealed: “She told me one day: ‘I had been praying to God for a long time for Him to send me somebody good, and He finally sent me you.’ ”

Pondering her client’s words, Jane reflected on her time with the special client and said: “It touched my heart that she was so very sweet and compassionate. She was my most recent client. I have great memories of baking with her and going on walks with her. I also helped her do her hair and makeup. In addition, I helped her pick outfits.”

Jane’s precious days with her Home Instead client were not unlike her close relationship with her grandmother.