One of Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Leona Dickens’ greatest senior-care experiences lasted 12 years, about 11½ years longer than a medical professional had predicted. Leona hadn’t been working for Home Instead at the time – she was embracing her fulfilling role as a family caregiver. “I was taking care of my darling mother,” Leona said.
“My mother has gone on to be with the Lord,” Leona said. “Following my mother’s original diagnosis, her doctor had sent her home into my care with a three-to-six-month window of life. With God’s help, a lot of tender, loving care and my spouse’s assistance, my mother’s window of life expanded to 12 years. My mother’s daily expressions of gratitude for her quality of life brought much joy and peace to our home.”
Perhaps it was no coincidence that Leona later joined Home Instead of Collin County, Texas, where the award-winning franchise operates from an office in Plano. Chase and Taylor Crenwelge are the franchise co-owners. Leona said: “I began my employment with Home Instead in December 2020. I had just moved from California to Texas after retiring from a very wonderful career of 23 years as an office manager of a physical therapy clinic. I have worked in the medical field, in different services, for 40-plus years.”
Leona added: “My life has been one of serving others as the need is presented to me. Home Instead has allowed me to continue in that vein of servanthood. They have given me new tools and professional senior-care techniques to stay current in our ever-changing field.”
Home Instead Human Resources Coordinator Jocelyn Mejia announced Leona’s honor as the Care Pro of the Month for April 2025. 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. Leona embodies Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.” She is exceptional at her work with any client.
In addition to her strong companionship skills, Leona provides safety assurance, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and transportation and errands. Leona offers personal assistance with eating, grooming, dressing, bathing, incontinence care, cognitive impairment, hospice support and mobility. By expertly doing so, Leona not only assists her clients, but helps their families eliminate worry, reduce stress and re-establish personal freedom.
“My greatest joy is, when entering my client’s space, I’m welcomed with admiration, gratitude and appreciation. I plan to continue to serve each client assigned to me with the spirit of excellence, respect and love. I wish to thank all of the Home Instead office staff for its continued support,” Leona said.
Leona is an important part of the Care Pro team at the Collin County franchise, a member of a network comprised of Home Instead, Inc. and its parent company, Honor. With the world’s largest home-care network and the most advanced care platform, Honor and Home Instead are revolutionizing care for older adults, their families and Care Pros. Combined, the network has more than 100,000 Care Pros across 13 countries, meeting the growing needs of millions of older adults and their families worldwide.
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (469) 916-9202 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website at homeinstead.com/home-care/usa/tx/richardson/278
