Home Instead Was an Answer to Prayer for Honoree Gloria
One of Gloria Hill’s many prayers were answered when she joined Home Instead® of Mount Airy, North Carolina in October 2024. For those who know Gloria, they are quite aware she “prays without ceasing,” as the Bible verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says.
Gloria, who was honored as the Home Instead franchise’s Care Professional of the Month for March 2025, confirmed: “I pray about everything. I prayed about retiring and prayed before applying for my Home Instead job.”
“Retirement” came in 2015, when Gloria ended her 25 years with an Ohio retirement community at age 62. “I had worked in all aspects of the care community: independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing. At first, I was a CNA, but then I moved into supervisory positions in which I handled such things as paperwork, scheduling and the behind-the-scenes matters,” Gloria said.
It also was 10 years ago when Gloria, a West Virginia native, married Bill Hill in North Carolina. “We thought North Carolina would be a neutral ground between his family and mine. He’s from Virginia. North Carolina couldn’t be any better than it is. The state is beautiful, but I’m still an Ohio State Buckeyes fan,” said Gloria, giving a nod to the 2024 NCAA football champions.
Ironically, it was in Ohio where Gloria heard about Home Instead, news that came from a church friend. Home Instead, Inc., and its parent company, Honor, form the world’s largest home-care network and have the most advanced care platform. The network has more than 100,000 Care Pros and 1,200 franchises in 13 countries. The award-winning Mount Airy franchise, which opened May 11, 2011, is owned by Van and Ann Lankford and serves Surry County.
Gloria said Home Instead has been a good fit. “Home Instead worked with me on my schedule when I was hired. I received full-time shifts right away that worked for me. Kim (Atkins-Bruner) is awesome. In fact, the Home Instead office staff are nice people. They help you in any way they can,” said Gloria, who bonded immediately with a client shortly after joining Home Instead.
“Early in my tenure with Home Instead, I took a fill-in shift with a nice lady. Before that day was over, she was on the telephone, talking to the Home Instead staff about keeping me on a permanent basis. She told me she was amazed at what I could accomplish.”
Gloria has been with her most recent regular client for nearly five months, taking weekday shifts with a 77-year-old who lives alone. “She is a wonderful lady who has two sisters, including one who lives down the street from her,” Gloria said. “Her mobility is good, she dresses herself and she handles her own personal care. I am doing the meal preparation. Companionship is a big element of care for her. She loves to talk about everything, including recipes.”
Gloria added: “She was a secretary for a college president, and she liked her job. She is happy in her own house. I have taken her outside the home on occasion, and she has enjoyed it, but she tells me she’s just as happy remaining in her home. She has all kinds of flowers in her yard.”
The client and Gloria share “a like precious faith.”
Gloria said: “My client prays on her own. We talk about God and about the world and what is happening. Like me, she is in ‘The Word,’ the Bible. God is good. My faith is good. I trust in the Lord.”
When asked to speculate about the timing of her “second” retirement from the work world, Gloria said: “I’ll be 73 in December. I thank God that I am healthy and can work at this job. I want to keep going for as long as I can. I love Home Instead, which has good people. I haven’t worked for anyone else who is so nice and accommodating as Home Instead.”
