Care Professional Awards & Recognition

Lann: A Privileged Connection to the Heart of Home Care

Lann R. views his role as a Care Professional as both a privilege and a profound responsibility, a sentiment that stems from a lifetime of watching family members and friends provide comfort to their own aging loved ones. Since joining the Home Instead team, Lann has embraced the professional and courteous environment of the franchise, finding deep satisfaction in being an accessible and reliable source of support for those he serves. For Lann, the most rewarding aspect of the job is the way he naturally becomes woven into the fabric of his clients' lives, often developing a bond so close that he feels like a member of their own family.

Each day with Lann is tailored to the unique needs and routines of his clients. Whether he is assisting with a shared meal, enjoying the fresh air on a walk outdoors, or helping a client care for a beloved pet, he finds joy in the variety of the work. He takes particular pride in being a steady presence during more challenging moments, such as using his training and a gait belt to balance a client and prevent a fall. These "klutzy moments" that could have been serious are transformed into positive memories through his proactive care and quick response.

Knowing that he has a positive effect on someone’s day is what truly warms Lann's heart. He describes his time with Home Instead as a "worthwhile experience" that offers both professional growth and a deep sense of personal accomplishment. Lann feels honored to serve his community and encourages anyone considering this path to take the leap, believing they will find it to be a career move with "no regrets". For Lann, every client interaction is a memorable experience that he intends to carry with him for a very long time.

Ana: A Blessing of Connection and Honesty

Ana G. joined the Home Instead family in June 2024, and in a short time, she has already made a significant impact on the lives of many. Ana describes herself as "blessed and happy" to provide care. For Ana, caregiving is not just a role; it is a spiritual and emotional journey. She approaches every shift with a sense of gratitude, often expressing how lucky she feels to get to know each unique individual she supports.

Ana shares a particularly special bond with her current client. Their time together is defined by a deep, mutual respect and the joy of shared stories. Ana believes that the heart of caregiving lies in being your true, honest self. She doesn't believe in putting on a "show" when she walks into a home; instead, she brings her authentic personality, which allows her clients to feel safe and truly seen. This honesty creates a heartwarming atmosphere that Ana says stays with her long after her shift ends.

The rewards of the job, for Ana, are found in the simple, loving moments of connection. She thrives on the feeling of being "the best of herself" for others, providing a level of care that is both sincere and sweet. Her advice to those considering becoming a Care Professional is to lead with a loving heart. She emphasizes that the world needs more honest and caring people who are willing to give the best of themselves to support others. To Ana, every day spent helping a client is a reminder of the beauty found in human connection and the importance of appreciating life's blessings.

It is easy to see why Katie H. was honored as the Care Professional of the Month for May at Home Instead® of Fox River Valley in St. Charles, Illinois. Katie was selected just 14 months after she had joined the award-winning Home Instead franchise.

Home Instead Staffing Manager James Wall was effusive in his praise for Katie. “She has won the hearts of our clients, becoming more than just a Care Pro — she’s become a cherished part of their families. Dependable, compassionate and always present with a warm smile, Katie brings light and laughter into every home she visits. Her passion for animals is as boundless as her love for people, creating an instant bond that puts everyone at ease. Seniors love their pets as if they were their own children, and Katie understands and thrives in those situations,” James said.

Noting that Katie represents Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart,” James added: “From sharing a cup of coffee in the morning to reminiscing over favorite family stories, Katie has a way of turning ordinary moments into unforgettable memories. She listens with patience, cares with empathy and always shows up when it matters most. Her positive spirit is contagious, lifting the spirits of those around her.”

Few people have faced challenges in life as Svitlana K. has. The Ukrainian native escaped her worn-torn country and became a Care Professional for award-winning Home Instead® of St. Charles, Illinois, where she earned the Fox River Valley franchise’s employee of the month honor in March 2025. Svitlana’s experiences before the war were a sometimes-overwhelming preparation for what she has successfully accomplished as a senior-care professional.

“Not everything has been smooth in my life,” Svitlana explained. “When my daughter was 18, she got into a car accident, suffered a serious spinal injury and other bone fractures. For more than three months, she was bedridden and could not move. She spent all that time in the hospital, and I did not leave her. I did everything to ease her condition.”

Svitlana added: “Then, my brother had a stroke, and I had to take care of him for some time while he could not move. Unfortunately, 10 years ago, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. She moved in with me, and for several years I did everything to ease her suffering.”

Svitlana didn’t originally set out to be a professional caregiver in the Ukraine, but that is what she did before coming to America. Svitlana said: “I previously had a similar caregiving experience in Ukraine. For two years, I looked after the elderly and people after they had surgeries or other health problems.”

Becky C. listens. That’s one of the many reasons she is a Care Professional of the Month at Home Instead^® of Fox River Valley in St. Charles, Illinois. After one conversation with a client, Becky quickly decided that television viewing was out, and getting out “was in.”

“One of my clients said he felt as if he were ‘in prison,’ being stuck in his home because he could no longer drive or walk on his own. I took him to different area parks for a change of scenery and fresh air. He really enjoyed that,” said Becky, whose Care Pro of the Month honor was announced in January 2025 by Home Instead Training Coordinator Jackie Washburn.

Perhaps the client could feel Becky’s compassion and empathy on the first day she showed up to assist him. Those are two of the characteristics that are evaluated when a Care Pro is considered for the employee of the month award. Of course, there are others. Has the Care Pro gone above and beyond the call of duty? Does the Care Pro possess the skills and wisdom to be highly successful? Is the Care Pro exceptional at her work with any client? Finally, does the Care Pro focus on Home Instead’s training, processes and procedures of successful caregiving? In other words, does the Care Pro work at getting better?

It qualified as a senior-care miracle.

Two months after Home Instead^® Care Professional Oludotun “Dot” Oladosu had first arrived to help Mr. J., an 81-year-old client, he began taking steps without his walker. “It was something Mr. J. wanted to try. I allowed him to attempt it, but only if I was a standby assist where I was either directly behind him or beside him,” Dot recalled. “Safety is our top priority.”

Dot didn’t take credit for the client’s marked improvement in mobility, but perhaps she should have. Through her encouragement, Mr. J. slowly progressed to the point where he was safely going up and down the stairs in his home. “Mr. J. was doing exercises on his own when I first got there. Mr. J. does them now before I arrive for late-morning shifts. Since he tries to do his exercises twice a day, he asks me to remind him to do them in the afternoon,” Dot explained. “Of course, I am happy to do that.”

Mr. J. showers and dresses himself. At the start, Dot had put his shoes on. Now he can do it by himself. The client had a weekend Care Pro before Dot was assigned to him about a year ago for weekdays. Now he wants just Dot. In fact, when the client overheard a brief telephone conversation in which Dot had turned down a request to help another client, he was worried. Dot recalled the conversation after she ended the call. “My client asked me, ‘Are you leaving me?’ I told him that I was not. He always wants to make sure I am coming back,” Dot said.