Most people are glad when Friday arrives each week. In fact, it’s been said that most Americans “live for Friday.” But that is not the case for one senior in suburban Chicagoland. Every Friday, that senior, who is a Home Instead® client, asks Caregiver of the Month Miggy Scurry, “Do you know what day it is?” And every Friday, Miggy tells her client, “Yes, I know what day it is. It is Friday.” Miggy’s client always responds, “Miggy, you know I don’t like Fridays because it is the day before the weekend, and I won’t see you for the next two days.”
Miggy smiles and thinks to herself, “As far as a sign of appreciation goes, what more can I ask for? His words say it all.” It’s not surprising to see Miggy and her client have bonded, and her companionship means the world to him.
For anyone who knows her, it is easy to see Migdalia “Miggy” Scurry was destined to help people. “I knew at a very young age I always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Miggy, who poignantly further explained: “Growing up, my childhood was not the best. I was given up by my parents at the age of 4 and became a ward of the state until I became an adult.”
Miggy added: “Let’s just say that was the best thing that happened to me. Today, I can say it made me become a better person for it. I have always been a caring person as long as I can remember.”
Miggy has been working with people who have special needs for nearly 40 years, “straight out of high school,” she pointed out, “and in either a school setting or a residential setting.” Miggy continues to work full time for the Clare Woods Academy’s Cupertino Home. The organization assists with the learning and developmentally disabled youth and adults to become self-sufficient and self-directed in areas of personal growth, general health, education, social and emotional well-being and functional living skills.
Miggy said that, as she has gotten older, she wanted to try something new to make a difference for a different demographic. She said, “So, I thought, ‘Why not help the elderly?’ and that’s when I looked up jobs for seniors and found Home Instead. I was reading what Home Instead was about, and I really thought it would be a great fit for me. And it has been.”
About a year ago, Miggy joined owner Kelly Hutchison’s award-winning Home Instead franchise in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Digital Brand Manager Mia Tatone announced Miggy had been honored as Caregiver of the Month for November.
Miggy feels the reciprocated love from her Caregiver job. “The best thing about my job is helping a family who really needs and appreciates everything I do for them. They are always thanking me for all I do. Even when my client is in the hospital, he still keeps in touch with me. They are my family away from family,” she said.
“Working as a Home Instead Caregiver has been a great learning experience for me. I have to admit that, at the beginning, I was scared and not sure what I would be doing. My client thought
I had been doing this for years. He could not believe he was my first client. It is great coming to work and being so appreciated by the family and company that I work for.”
For Miggy and her fellow Caregivers, touching lives impacts their souls, whether they are providing physical help such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders or personal care or if they are offering emotional support in a companionship role.
Miggy is among more than 100,000 Caregivers worldwide, and she has helped add to those numbers because of her strong belief in Home Instead’s purpose. It isn’t hard to see Miggy lives the Home Instead principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”
