Care Professional Awards & Recognition

Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Miriti Zakios says there can be many facets to outstanding senior care and caregiving skills are important, but her primary goal boils down to one phrase: “I take my clients’ pain and try to turn it into comfort for them.”

Miriti’s empathy and compassion for her clients and their families have been on display at owner Greg Gomez-Mira’s Home Instead® franchise in south-central Houston since the end of December 2022. “I applied for my Home Instead job in November 2022 when I talked to Margi Kenny, our human resources manager, before taking the job,” said Miriti, who began working as a senior-care professional in February 2020.

Miriti’s uncompromising loyalty to a longtime client held up her arrival at Home Instead until the client passed away Dec. 21, 2022. “I had decided to make the move to Home Instead,” Miriti explained, “but I could not leave the client until after her death. I value all my relationships with clients and the ties I have with their family members. Your heart goes out to them.”

During a life-changing transition for her 81-year-old client, two-time Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Linda Flores-Roque has been a consistent source of reassurance. Linda has been assisting the client for nearly a year, and their bonds included a strong emotional thread the client sorely needed during a stressful time.

“My client recently moved to assisted living after having lived with a family member. At first, she didn’t want to go,” said Linda, who is her client’s only Care Pro and is a member of the award-winning team at Home Instead of south-central Houston. “On that first day, she asked if she could go home. She was in a bit of a panic and didn’t want to be left alone. I comforted her and helped her to ease into her new surroundings.”

Linda added: “Before I left on that first day, I took my client to the dining room and promised I’d be back in two days. As I had anticipated, she was eager to see me return. She knows who I am but does not remember my name. Each time when I arrive, she says, ‘I am always looking for you to return and am happy when I see you.’ ”

The client was especially happy on a June day when Linda arrived on the client’s birthday with balloons and candy. “She remembered her birthday on the Friday before it occurred on a Monday. She was anticipating it, and I had not forgotten. She thanked me. She’s a sweetheart. Nine out of 10 times she is in a very good mood. She can be repetitive, and sometimes she realizes and apologizes, but I reassure her that it’s nothing to worry about. I listen to every word.”

Linda’s patience, empathy and compassion are among the many reasons why she was honored as a Care Pro of the Month for the second time in 13 months.

Before Home Instead^® Care Professional of the Month Ramonda “Mona” Tezeno began helping an 82-year-old client, most of the residents at the client’s independent care community didn’t know him because he rarely ventured outside his apartment. … and he had been living there for two years, since he moved from the East Coast to the Houston area to be closer to family.  

The reason for the client’s self-imposed isolation? Mona explained: “He is aware of his Alzheimer’s and had gotten self-conscious. He preferred to have his meals delivered to his room. He was so reserved when I met him. On our first day, his daughter took us to lunch so we could get acquainted. He is a former college professor who is such a gentleman with such chivalry. He spoils me. He opens the door for me. He is respectful. He appreciates my help.”

Mona has infused confidence into the client, emphasizing that forgetfulness and repetitiveness are a part of anyone’s life regardless of age. “He is coming out of his shell. He knows his challenges and has come to grips with them. Now he speaks first to people rather than waiting for them to address him. I gently persuaded him to go to the dining room. Sometimes he will say, ‘I just don’t remember.’ But he remembers the shortened form of my name,” Mona said.   

Heather Carrico’s rewards as a Care Professional at Home Instead^® of Houston have exceeded her expectations. “I have a client who inspires me and does so much more for me than she knows,” Heather explained.

She added: “Despite all the personal losses she has had and everything she is going through right now, she remains full of life and joy. She doesn’t let anything stop her from trying and learning how to keep moving forward. She gives me strength in my moments of weakness.”

When Heather joined the award-winning Home Instead franchise that is owned by Greg Gomez-Mira and serves south-central Houston, it was Heather’s first position with a professional in-home senior-care agency.

“I had heard of Home Instead throughout many years and felt as if it would be a joy to work for them because of their advertised compassion. I found Home Instead’s listing on Indeed.com and was happy to apply. As far as my previous employment background, I had worked many years in customer service, where I strived to make others happy,” Heather recalled.

On her birthday eight months ago, Marlena Soileau applied for a position as a Care Professional with owner Greg Gomez-Mira’s award-winning Home Instead^® franchise that serves south-central Houston. Marlena had a special reason for submitting the application on her uniquely special day. “It was my dream job,” she said.

Marlena does so many little things that make a client’s day special. “Among my favorite stories is that for a particular client, I love our morning walks and inside jokes. Also we play cards and other games. We go to church every first Sunday of the month,” Marlena said. “I love my career because I love helping others. It makes life easier and peaceful for clients.”

Home Instead Scheduling Coordinator Jessica Williams and her fellow staff members wholeheartedly agreed that Marlena has done wonders for her clients. “Marlena has helped a client to get out of her shell and make living for her in a facility more pleasant,” said Jessica, who announced Marlena has been honored as one of the franchise’s Care Pros of the Month. “Marlena displays Home Instead’s guiding principles of ‘Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.’ She has gone above and beyond the call of duty and is exceptional at her work.”

When it comes to patience and empathy, perhaps few others have more of those caregiving qualities than Home Instead^® Care Professional of the Month Celestine Yemeck. The fact that she slowly and adeptly overcame a client’s resistance to much-needed help is an example of Celestine’s innate ability to model Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”

“One of my favorite experiences involves a client who lives with dementia. In the beginning, he had a very hard time trusting me. He often refused my help and preferred to be left alone, sometimes even getting upset when I tried to assist him. But I remained patient, calm and kind, always gently reassuring him I was there to help,” Celestine explained.

The client needed constant supervision and assistance, so Celestine had to be close to him throughout the day, even when he asked Celestine to leave. “At first,” Celestine recalled, “the client had a good relationship with other Care Pros, but not with me. I saw that as a personal challenge. I wanted to build a bond with him too.”

Celestine added: “With time, he began to open up. He started trusting me more, accepting my care and even engaging in conversation. Eventually, we began sharing small jokes and laughing together. Today, we have a beautiful connection, and he no longer resists my help. I’m very proud of the progress we’ve made, and I feel honored to be part of his care journey. I’ve also learned a lot about his culture through our time together.”

The world needs more people like Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Trinity Milton. Home Instead Scheduling Coordinator Jessica Williams said Trinity doesn’t shy away from difficulties. “Trinity is one of our new Care Pros,” Jessica said, “but she has some grit about her. She has worked on some of our more challenging cases, and she really rose to the occasion wonderfully. She takes any criticism and adapts to all situations. She is our honoree for March.”

Ten months ago, Trinity chose to assist seniors and their families on behalf of the award-winning Home Instead franchise that serves south-central Houston, including Arcola, Bellaire, Pearland, Meyerland, Sugar Land, Sweetwater, Fresno, Greatwood and Missouri City. Greg Gomez-Mira has served as the Home Instead franchise’s owner for 12 years. “I found Home Instead online after having heard some good things and having read some great reviews,” Trinity said.

For the past three years, Trinity also has been a family caregiver for a loved one. “I wanted to explore my options for a good job, go out and meet people and provide them with the grace and love I have to offer,” Trinity said. “What I like most about being a Home Instead Care Professional is being able to work with my clients. They have shown me so much love and welcome me with open arms.”

Home Instead^® Care Professional of the Month Annie Hodge did not back down when a monster winter snowstorm struck the Houston area Jan. 21, 2025. Winter Storm Enzo, so named by The Weather Channel, struck Houston with record-setting amounts of snow that reached as high as 6 inches in an occurrence that was considered rare for southeast Texas. The snowfall and ice caused disruptions in the city, with road and business closures, as well as power outages.

Many in-home care shifts across the city understandably were affected for days because of widespread travel difficulty. But Home Instead Scheduling Coordinator Jessica Williams praised Annie, saying: “Annie worked a 36-hour shift because of Winter Storm Enzo.”

Jessica added: “Annie is one of our more seasoned caregivers. She has a true love for the job as well as her client. Annie communicates with the office about any changes for her client and any concerns she may have.”

It’d be an understatement to say Home Instead^® Care Professional of the Month Maritza Barillas got an early start in caregiving. She hadn’t yet reached her teenage years when she began serving as a family caregiver for her grandmother, who had battled at least two major chronic health challenges.

Maritza poignantly recalled: “I took care of my grandmother, who had Type 2 diabetes and dementia. From the age of 12 until I moved to the United States at 17, I helped her with tasks, such as checking her blood pressure and blood-sugar levels. We also took walks together in our neighborhood, which were some of my favorite moments with her.”

When Maritza joined owner Greg Gomez-Mira’s award-winning Home Instead franchise in south-central Houston more than two years ago, the office staff was delighted to hire a multi-talented employee. “I have experience as both a caregiver and a paralegal. In addition to my work at Home Instead, I am also a college student, majoring in psychology. My background in caregiving has given me a deep appreciation for working with people,” Maritza said.

Maritza found Home Instead online when she was searching for a job. The hiring process was smooth, she noted, pointing out: “I already had my CNA certification. Initially, I pursued my CNA to become a nurse, but over time, I decided to take a different path.”

You can’t blame Home Instead^® Care Professional of the Month Clairlyn Easington for getting “the giggles” when she is with one of her clients.

“I have always enjoyed clients who have a sense of humor. One client, in particular, is known for telling stories. The best part about his stories is that he giggles either midway through the story or when he is done, then immediately becomes serious again,” Clairlyn explained.

“His giggles are infectious, and I often find myself giggling as well. These moments confirm that the client feels safe under my care and is willing to share his stories with me. It is also a reminder that my purpose in life is to serve, and that I am, in fact, living my purpose.”

Describing her life’s journey, the retired geriatric nurse said: “I do not refer to nursing as my profession but as my vocation, as it was my calling. Nursing calls for you to ‘serve’ others in the same way that I do as a Home Instead Care Pro.”

Clairlyn added: “In addition to client companionship, what I also enjoy about being a Home Instead Care Pro, unlike nursing, is that I devote my time to one person versus taking care of multiple people all at the same time. I appreciate being able to assist clients on a one-to-one basis without the overwhelming volume of tasks such as documentation. This allows me to get to know my client and give my undivided attention.”

Home Instead® Care Professional Marie Cole will never forget her first day with a 94-year-old client about a year ago. Marie, recounting the episode as if it were yesterday, said: “She told me, ‘You’re 31.’ Since I’m not 31 years old, I asked her what ‘31’ was. She replied, ‘You’re the 31st caregiver to come help me.’ ”

With a wry smile, Marie said, “After a while, I could see why, but I managed. I know how to deal with challenging clients and people. She was active, still cooking and baking. But during a year’s time, she declined.”

Because Marie handles every challenge with patience and empathy, it’s easy to see why she was honored as a Care Pro of the Month at Home Instead of south-central Houston, an award-winning franchise owned by Greg Gomez-Mira. Home Instead Scheduling Coordinator Jessica Williams made the announcement, noting that Marie displays Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”.