‘Part of a Family,’ Sri Has Never Left Her 1st Client
On a memorable April weekend in 2020, Home Instead® Care Professional Sri Sukesi stepped into a client’s home for the first time – actually on her first assignment – and has always returned. “On a Friday, I went through orientation. The next day, I went to help a World War II military pilot who is wheelchair-bound,” said Sri as she marveled at the speed of the hiring process at Home Instead of Clearwater, an award-winning franchise owned by Julie Castle. Sri also is amazed by her client.
Sri serves as a live-in Care Pro from Fridays through Monday mornings with the 97-year-old client who has 24/7 coverage from Home Instead. Sri said proudly, “From the very beginning, I have been with him. It has gone well. He lives on the bottom floor of a home he shares with his son and daughter-in-law. The daughter-in-law does his meal preparation, and everything goes smoothly with the way things are set up. I feel as though I am part of a really good family.”
Sri added: “He likes to talk. He’s a really, really good man. Sometimes I take him outside in his wheelchair to get fresh air. He remembers everything because he is someone who has a clear mind, no dementia. I forget some things, but he certainly does not. He’s never cranky.” Sri uses a Hoyer lift with the client, and she does sponge baths. “I encourage him as he does exercises twice a day with his arms and feet. He can stand for only a couple of seconds,” Sri explained.
On Nov. 14, Director of Care Professional Services JC Crady announced Sri had been honored as a Care Professional of the Month for the Pinellas County franchise. Among the considerations for achieving Care Pro of the Month status, an employee has shown he or she has gone above and beyond the call of duty, JC pointed out. Empathy and compassion are taken into account for the award, as well as skill and wisdom for dealing with challenging situations. Sri embodies Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”
It was no surprise when Sri received her Care Pro award. When JC and her fellow Home Instead staff members took a look at Sri’s resume, they jumped at the chance to hire the cheerful, upbeat professional caregiver who had worked for an assisted-living community from 2007 to 2020. At that facility, Sri’s managers offered many praises for Sri’s compassionate work. In fact, she received one of the facility’s “Rock Star” awards for her excellence of care.
While working on the weekends for Home Instead, Sri also works for another agency on weekdays. Because she loves her career choice, Sri’s only day off is Monday. “I want to keep going with Home Instead. There’s been no problem so far, and the client is such a great guy,” Sri said.
Sri said she enjoys being a part of the Care Pro team for the Clearwater 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.
Our office serves all of Pinellas County, including Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, Largo, Pinellas Park, Seminole, Belleair, St. Petersburg, Gulfport and surrounding beaches. All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (727) 799-1400 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
