Grandfather’s Plight Inspired Gabrielle to Help Seniors
Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Gabrielle Carpenter’s initial inspiration for venturing into professional caregiving as an occupational journey came from her Grandfather Bill. Gabrielle will never forget the tragic final chapter of her grandfather’s life.
“My grandfather had just beaten brain cancer. He was discharged from the hospital and entered a rehabilitation facility. That is where he fell, suffered alone on the floor and passed away as the result of brain bleed,” Gabrielle explained. She couldn’t help but wonder “what if?” – what if someone had been present, either to try to prevent the fall or to summon immediate care for him?
Gabrielle has been a professional caregiver for six years, and she is enrolled in Surry Community College’s Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program. Gabrielle has served as a Care Pro at Home Instead of Mount Airy, North Carolina, for nearly a year, and she had previously worked for a different home-health company before she moved to Mount Airy. Gabrielle also has been a private-duty family caregiver for her mother since 2019.
“When my mother was declared legally disabled as the result of a court hearing, I anticipated the appearance of her ailments because I knew I would be the one to take care of her. With my utmost devotion, I’ve been caring for my mother. I am trying to make her life easier by helping with housework, cooking, doctor’s appointments and car maintenance,” Gabrielle said.
“I know that my background in caring for my mother with love has bled into passion in my work. Caring for someone with love means you will leave no request ignored and no need unmet. Your conscience won’t let you fall short of giving them your all and going above and beyond to make sure they’re happy and comfortable.”
Gabrielle found Home Instead through her older sister, Courtney, who worked with another Home Instead franchise for years and found a longtime client she loved. Gabrielle has experienced the same kind of attachments to her Home Instead clients. “Something I’ve found through Home Instead,” she said, “is how lively, talkative and loving the clients are.”
Gabrielle added: “It can baffle you at times to think of your age difference and the lives they’ve led, the things they’ve gotten to witness and experience and yet how similar your personality traits and humor can be. It makes you completely forget about a client’s age or ailment when you get into a deep conversation or share a good laugh with them. You can always find something to bond over or talk about, even on your first day with a new client.”
As a result of Gabrielle’s empathetic heart, compassionate ways and wonderful senior-care skills, the Home Instead office staff honored her as the franchise’s Care Pro of the Month for May. Gabrielle displays Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”
“I am very grateful for the amount of time I get to spend with my clients. Home care is different from working in a facility because you can dedicate more time to your clients and make sure their every need is met, that every box is checked and you can still spend quality time together,” Gabrielle said.
She also pointed out: “Working in a facility limits the amount of time you get to spend with each resident. It can weigh on you when you want to devote the extra time to those who need it, but physically you cannot because other things are required. I am grateful I have time to talk to my clients, watch a show, laugh together or share a mealtime. It makes them more comfortable in their home when they get to know you and know that you’d never wrong them.”
Gabrielle is busy. She enjoys serving seniors and their families on behalf of the award-winning Home Instead franchise, which is owned by Ann and Van Lankford. But when Gabrielle isn’t working as a Care Pro, she’s attending school. “I take night classes while working during the daytime. I am set to graduate in December 2025. I remain flexible. I have experience in home care as well as experience as ‘a floater’ who goes to different facilities such as retirement homes and memory care facilities for a limited amount of time because of staffing,” she said.
For Gabrielle and her fellow Care Pros, touching lives impacts their souls, whether they are providing physical help such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders or personal care or if they are offering emotional support in a companionship role.
