Little did Care Professional of the Month Jane know more than a year ago, she would have a divine appointment to assist a faith-based lady for the final 11 months of her life. Referring to her Home Instead® client, Jane revealed: “She told me one day: ‘I had been praying to God for a long time for Him to send me somebody good, and He finally sent me you.’ ”
Pondering her client’s words, Jane reflected on her time with the special client and said: “It touched my heart that she was so very sweet and compassionate. She was my most recent client. I have great memories of baking with her and going on walks with her. I also helped her do her hair and makeup. In addition, I helped her pick outfits.”
Jane’s precious days with her Home Instead client were not unlike her close relationship with her grandmother.
“Growing up, I had an invaluable family caregiving experience,” Jane recalled. “When I was a teenager, my grandmother went to live in a nursing home. After school, I’d go to the nursing home and help bathe her, dress her and take her outside for walks. I’d also help my grandmother do her nails and her hair. Those are very fond memories for me as I was growing up.”
Jane couldn’t ignore her yearning to come alongside other seniors who needed assistance. “Later on,” Jane said, “when I was in my 20s, I ended up being a private-duty caregiver. A woman contracted with me to take care of her sister, who was a retired nurse. I assisted her for about 10 years before she passed away.”
Jane took a few years off from professional senior care before owner Kelly Hutchison’s award-winning Home Instead franchise in Itasca, Illinois, entered her life. “I happened to be on Facebook when I saw an advertisement for Care Professional jobs. I replied, and Home Instead called me for an interview. That’s how I ended up working with them,” Jane explained.
In April 20234, Human Resources Manager Alina Merrill announced Jane’s selection as the franchise’s Care Pro of the Month, a fitting honor for someone who so closely displays Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”
For Jane, touching lives impacts her soul, whether she is providing physical help such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders or personal care or if she is offering emotional support in a companionship role. Focusing on Home Instead’s training, processes and procedures of successful caregiving helped Jane achieve Care Pro of the Month status.
Jane loves being a part of her Care Pro team at the Itasca franchise. With the world’s largest home-care network and the most advanced care platform, Home Instead is 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. The Itasca office serves the Chicagoland cities of Elk Grove Village, Addison, Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Elk Grove, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Medinah, Mt. Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Schaumburg, Streamwood, and Wood Dale.
Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (847) 690-9825 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website at homeinstead.com/location/205
