Memory can be a funny thing. Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Cathy Hammond giggled when she recalled the day that she had forgotten something important – and her client had remembered and humorously called her on it.
Cathy explained: “My client loves Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, so I make sure he gets one or two each time I see him. One day, we ran out of them. I told him I would get more during the weekend. Well, Monday arrived, and I didn’t have them. My client said, ‘Hey, you forgot about me!’ I really didn’t think he would remember. I said, ‘Never!’ He was happy when I said, ‘Let’s get in the car and go get some more.’ I had to laugh. He was just like a kid in the candy store.”
Home Instead Care Pro Advocate Amanda Ross said Cathy’s unplanned trip to the store to please her client is typical of the award-winning Care Pro who is a compassionate, empathetic people-pleaser. “Cathy has been with our Collin County franchise office in Plano for the past year and half. She has been a constant for her client, who lost his wife last year. When I think of Home Instead’s guiding principles of ‘Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart,’ I think of Cathy.”
The widowed client, who bonded quickly with Cathy, can thank his lucky stars Cathy did not take “retirement” seriously. “My profession was in finance and mortgage. When I retired, I was not thinking about sitting around in a rocking chair. I wanted to give back to others and do something to help people who are in need,” said Cathy, who also pointed out: “I have loved working with people over the years. I’ve done lots of volunteer work, including Meals on Wheels, the Scottish Rite for Children, food pantries and more. When I saw a TV commercial for Home Instead, I said to myself, ‘That’s who I want to work for.’ ”
Cathy and Home Instead have been a perfect match. Referring to Cathy’s desire to take another job after her retirement, franchise owner Todd Felker said: “We find that many people have opted to ‘unretire,’ or return to work, perhaps in part-time roles, after their initial retirements. According to research conducted by the Home Instead corporate office, 53 percent of those soon to be retiring believed they were likely to return to work after retirement. Home Instead’s ‘UnRetire Yourself’ program encourages those people to combine their passions and experience to identify fulfilling post-retirement employment, including professional caregiving.”
Home Instead is not Cathy’s first extensive senior-care experience. She was an unpaid family caregiver for her grandmother and mother. “I was raised by my grandmother, who lived to be 99. We were very close. I think that’s why I have a connection with elderly people and children. My siblings and I took care of her till she took her last breath,” Cathy said.
“And the same was true with my mother’s situation. She passed away last year, and I helped care for Mom, who was on hospice. So, I learned a lot from the professionals about the best plan of care as a family caregiver.”
Cathy emotionally spoke in heartfelt bursts about her Home Instead job:
- “I love what I do!”
- “It is fulfilling.”
- “I am passionate about what I do.”
- “I feel this is my calling.”
Cathy added: “I go to work with the intention to do the best I can to make sure my client feels happy, secure and loved. My client lives at a senior living community. I make it a point to go around to each person, and I know them all by name. I give them a hug or warm touch.”
For Cathy and her fellow Care Pros at Todd’s franchise, 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.
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (469) 916-9202 or apply online at https://www.homeinstead.com/location/278/home-care-jobs/ . For further information about Home Instead, visit our website at https://www.homeinstead.com/location/278/
