Honoree Francisca Is Praised for Making an Immediate Impact
Several years ago, Francisca Martinez eagerly dived into her Care Professional position with Home Instead® of Midland-Odessa, Texas, an award-winning franchise now owned by William and Lorena Shensky. But Francisca was called away from her job because of a family emergency.
“I wasn’t with Home Instead long because my grandma – my dad’s mom – got sick with lung cancer, and I went back home to El Paso, Texas, to help her as a family caregiver,” Francisca recalled. “For about four months and shortly before my grandma passed away, she told me how proud she was to have me as a granddaughter. While I helped Grandma, my aunts and cousins helped her, too. I was glad I could help her because she was like my second mother.”
Francisca has been a professional caregiver since she was 23 years old, when she started as a private-duty caregiver while living in Amarillo, Texas. “My clients always have been like family. In fact, I still remember my first client in Amarillo, Joan B., who made quite an impression on me,” said Francisca, who later worked for an in-home care agency for 10 years. When that job ran its course, Francisca turned to Indeed.com, where she viewed Home Instead’s job openings.
From there, it didn’t take long for Francisca to make her way back to Home Instead. Engagement and Training Coordinator Rozephyr Jean explained: “Francisca joined us in May 2025 and made an immediate impact with her dedication and professionalism. She quickly became the preferred Care Professional for one of our complex clients who requires highly structured, 24-hour care.
Francisca has been exceptionally reliable, with no call-offs since she started, and her attention to detail and commitment to high-quality care have truly set her apart.”
In September 2025, Francisca was honored as the Home Instead franchise’s Care Pro of the Month. “We were so pleased to announce that Francisca earned this well-deserved recognition!” Rozephyr said. “Among the considerations for achieving Care Pro of the Month status, an employee has shown she has gone above and beyond the call of duty. Empathy and compassion are taken into account for the award, as well as skill and wisdom for dealing with challenging situations. Francisca embodies Home Instead’s guiding principles of ‘Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.’ ”
Francisca was gratified, saying: “When I heard about the Care Pro of the Month award, I immediately said, ‘Thank you,’ because this honor means a lot. In nearly 20 years of being a caregiver, it’s the first time I’ve been recognized for my work. To the office staff, I say, ‘Thank y’all so much, and God bless y’all.’ I am very happy with Home Instead because the office staff cares to take the time to call and ask how I am doing and feeling. The staff members just want to make sure I am doing well, and I really appreciate that!”
Francisca noted that her greatest satisfaction as a Care Pro comes when her clients and their family members reveal their happiness with her work. “I think especially of Mrs. R., my client’s mother. I was so surprised when she told me how happy she is with me and seeing her son getting comfortable with my care. He recognizes my voice. I ask him questions, and he responds. That makes me feel good.”
Francisca believes senior-care professionals must love their jobs to make a difference. “If you don’t love what you do, then it becomes a burden. It’s just a run-of-the-mill job and not something you love to do. No matter what career they may be in, some people just show up to pick up a paycheck and don’t care if they are difference-makers,” she said. “To emphasize how much I love my job, I tell everyone that I arrive at my job happy every time. It doesn’t matter what is going on in my personal life once I arrive at my client’s house. If I have any problems, they all remain outside of work, and my client receives all my attention and care.”
Francisca added: “I’ll probably retire from Home Instead. That is my plan, but we’ll see what God has in store. I love what I do. I think that is why God placed me in the situation I’m in.”
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.
