Vicki Leaves a Lasting Legacy as Jackson Care Pro
Vicki Jeffers' beautifully crocheted afghans – with uniquely colorful designs – represent breathtaking tapestries of the lives of her former longtime client and their family members at Home Instead of Jackson, Tennessee, where she was honored as a Standing Ovation Care Professional Award winner before retiring June 26, 2026.Home Instead Director of Operations Brooke Childers said: “What Vicki did for her client, Ms. R., and her family members, gave me chills. By crocheting afghans for them, they were truly acts of love. After Vicki crocheted the first one for Ms. R., Vicki later crocheted two more for Ms. R.’s niece and brother. After she retired, Vicki continued to work on an afghan for Ms. R.’s daughter. When the daughter saw the progress of her unfinished afghan, she said, ‘This is going to be an heirloom.’”Brooke added: “The daughter’s words capture so much about who Vicki is. She didn’t just provide care – she left a lasting legacy in many lives. I feel people have to know Vicki is an unsung hero. She recently retired after three wonderful years with Home Instead, which followed a nearly 27-year career as a professional paramedic. I know she must have made an impact as a paramedic, because Vicki quickly built remarkable relationships with our clients, and I believe her story is one worth telling. Vicki’s health isn’t the best, so it wasn’t ‘her choice’ to give up caregiving. She’s such a strong lady, and I want to spotlight her character and strength.”Vicki explained: “I love working on these afghans for my client and her family members. I crocheted walker bags for Ms. R. and her niece. I’ve been crocheting since I was 14. If someone knows me, I’ll probably have crocheted something for them. My grandma knitted and crocheted and taught me the skill. My grandma and my dad raised me, and my dad taught me practically everything else except the crocheting. My work ethic came from them both. I grew up in Shelby County, in Frayser near Memphis. I was either outside playing and staying active or inside the house helping with cleaning, laundry, washing dishes and meal preparation.”Vicki was in home healthcare for 15 years before becoming a paramedic. Serving as a home healthcare worker, a paramedic and a senior-care professional can be challenging, and it begs the question: Why? Vicki said: “I love people. I want the best for them. When I was working as a paramedic, I was trained in dementia care. On 911 calls involving seniors with dementia, the dispatchers would send me. I love Home Instead. It is the only employer I’d return to if I could go back to work. They worked with me during my medical challenges.”Vicki’s life has not always been easy. “Firemen get to sleep,” Vicki said, “but that is not the case for paramedics. Paramedics are asked to respond more often, and it is around the clock.” Vicki was one of the first certified women paramedics to be housed in a fire station in Shelby County during their work shifts. Shelby County encompasses most of Memphis. “I later transferred to Tipton County, Tennessee, which is north of Memphis.”For about two years, Vicki had two jobs – paramedic and Home Instead Care Pro. But she retired as an active fulltime paramedic in 2025 and continued to work for Home Instead. Working only for Home Instead caused a shuffle of Vicki’s hours but not clients: “I really wanted to continue to take care of Ms. R., who is now 97. I assisted her all three years with Home Instead. My first day with Home Instead was Aug. 8, 2023. Even though I have retired, I still visit her. She is a special person who raised six children in a two-bedroom house. They are the most lovely children you could ever meet. She’s lived in the same house for the past 72 years. I got to know her neighbors. Many of them are family members.”Vicki emphasized: “Ms. R. is the sweetest person. She is my buddy.” But Vicki faced challenges because Ms. R. has sundowner’s syndrome. Sundowning is a group of neuropsychiatric symptoms – specifically confusion, agitation and restlessness – that emerge or worsen in people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia as the sun sets.Vicki said: “While sundowning, Ms. R. becomes uncommonly strong, and that by itself is problematic. She doesn’t know who anyone is. I’d be talking to her all day long until sunset, then she’d forget who I was. She knew me when I started my day. I tried to calm her when she was sundowning. I played music, all of her favorite songs. We acquired a CD player and would select very old songs. When she was young, she’d sing and dance. When she heard songs from her era, her mood would change. Between family members and Care Pros, she is never left alone. Her family is wonderful. I could never have asked for a better client and family.”Vicki, who lives on an acreage in Haywood County, shares her heart in other ways. She has 10 rescue dogs, and they have unique names. One is “Zelda Mae,” and another is “Butter.” “They are all well-behaved. I acquired some of them from law enforcement, who would come across them and ask me to take them when I was a paramedic. There were some sad stories. Everybody and everything deserves someone who will love them,” Vicki said.Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (731) 984-7062 or apply online at https://www.homeinstead.com/location/692/home-care-jobs/. For further information about Home Instead, including services, visit our website at https://www.homeinstead.com/location/692/. The Home Instead office is located at 196 Cheyenne Drive, Jackson, Tennessee.
