Honoree Kara Followed Her Mother’s Caregiving Career Path
The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Kara Foster soaked in every detail of her mother’s life as skilled nursing community worker. Kara observed her mother’s positive outlook, empathy, compassion, patience, communication skills, adaptability, resilience, emotional support and ability to develop bonding with residents.
“As I was growing up, my mom worked in a nursing home, so caregiving was always a part of my life. Seeing the compassion and dedication Mom put into her work inspired me from a young age,” said Kara, who was honored as the January 2026 Care Professional of the Month at Home Instead® of Midland-Odessa, Texas, an award-winning franchise owned by William and Lorena Shensky. Kara joined Home Instead in July 2025.
“Being a senior-care professional isn’t just work for me – it’s something of which I’ve been passionate since I was quite young. Just as my mother did, I truly love my job and everything I do. As I got older, I worked at the same nursing home as my mom did, and that is where I gained most of my hands-on caregiving experience,” Kara explained.
“Working at the nursing home is where I truly fell in love with what I do. Being able to help residents with their daily needs, providing comfort and building meaningful connections showed me how important this work is and confirmed that professional senior care is my calling. I found Home Instead online through Indeed.com, and Home Instead immediately felt like the right fit. I wanted to continue caregiving in a setting where I could make a personal difference, and Home Instead’s mission and values aligned perfectly with my passion.”
Home Instead’s core values are: “Treat each other with dignity and respect, encourage growth in ourselves and others, and continually build value in our service to others.” In addition, its guiding principles are “Build trust, take the lead and share your heart.” Home Instead’s mission is to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families, and to pioneer greater professionalism within care work. Engagement and Training Coordinator Rozephyr Jean said: “That’s why we’ve created a care experience that’s based on human touch, transparency and compassion. Kara is the epitome of our guiding principles and is the perfect representation of our core values.”
Rozephyr said the office staff knew immediately that it was hiring an employee with a high degree of successful experiences. Kara’s nursing-home experience taught her patience, responsibility and the importance of treating every person with dignity and respect. Kara added: “It prepared me well for my role at Home Instead and helped shape the Care Pro I am today. I’ve also had experience as a family caregiver, helping care for loved ones when they needed support. Those personal moments strengthened my compassion and understanding, and made me even more dedicated to caring for others.”
Rozephyr said: “We are excited to start the New Year by recognizing Kara as our Care Pro of the Month. Kara has been a valued member of the Home Instead Midland-Odessa team, and her dedication has truly stood out. Kara brings a fresh energy to our team with her gentle, welcoming nature and positive attitude. She approaches every task with confidence and is never intimidated by challenges, often stepping in to support our more complex-need clients. Her commitment is evident in her willingness to work multiple shifts in a single day, always putting the needs of others first. Thank you, Kara, for your exceptional dedication and compassionate care!”
Developing strong bonds with clients is among Kara’s top goals. “What I love most about my job as a Home Instead Care Professional is building strong relationships with my clients. I enjoy being able to support them, listen to their stories, and help them feel comfortable and valued. One of my favorite experiences with a Home Instead client has been spending time simply talking and sharing stories. Those moments, even the small ones, remind me why I love caregiving so much and why I’m proud of the work I do.” Kara said.
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (432) 689-4663 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
