Care Professional Awards & Recognition
At Home Instead®, our success revolves around the work of our Care Professionals – and we make sure they know it! We celebrate Care Pros year-round through: notes of appreciation, recognition in our employee newsletter, flowers, extra time off, and even impromptu office parties.
Our Care Professional of the Year Award
2025 Care Professional of the Year, Karen Willhoite
Karen is not just an exceptional Care Pro — she is a light in the lives of everyone she touches. As a certified end-of-life doula, she brings a depth of compassion, presence, and understanding that cannot be taught — only felt. In moments that are tender, uncertain, or heavy, Karen shows up with calm strength and steady grace.
She leads with her heart in everything she does. She takes the time to discover what matters most to her clients — their stories, their routines, their comforts — and she makes those things matter to her, too. That is the difference between providing care and being a caregiver.
Karen has provided meals off the clock without hesitation. She has created peace in homes that felt unsettled. She builds bonds with even the most challenging clients, offering patience, safety, and reassurance when it’s needed most. Her presence has a way of softening the room. She brings warmth, kindness, and a little sparkle everywhere she goes.
She lights up a space not because she tries to — but because she genuinely loves people.
Karen, your sweet spirit, your dedication, and your selfless heart make an impact far beyond what can be measured. We see you. We appreciate you. And we are so incredibly grateful for the love you pour into our clients every single day.
Rewarding Care Careers
At the heart of this position is the relationship between the Care Pro and the aging adult. Make a difference in someone’s life today.
