Home Instead® Care Professional of the Quarter Maria Egleston’s devotion to her clients is unquestioned. For instance, when one of her clients had COVID-19, Maria never left her client’s side. Home Instead General Manager Allison Johnston said, “Maria is committed to her clients through thick and thin.”
The daughter of a 98-year-old client said: “Maria is an answer to our prayers, a blessing to all of us in helping take care of my dad with her gentle spirit and her loving care.” Maria has been with the client for the past three months, and the daughter explained: “Maria has been such a joy. She is really taking such good care of my father. She comes in for every assigned shift with a joyful attitude that is really contagious. She does so whether it’s the morning, afternoon or night, since she is scheduled for all different kinds of shifts.”
The daughter added: “My dad is a storyteller, and Maria loves to sit with him and listen to all of his life’s stories, including his time in the U.S. Navy. Maria has been an inspiration to us all during this difficult time of his life. He receives care and assistance from Home Instead as well as cardiac comfort care with Hope Hospice. Home Instead has a wonderful Care Pro in Maria.”
Other clients’ family members also are impressed with the care Maria provides. A client’s daughter-in-law said, “Maria provides good, consistent and reliable care for my father-in-law. She consistently meets his needs.”
Adding to the compliments that spotlight Maria’s outstanding work, Allison further praised Maria from the Home Instead staff’s perspective. “She does not shy away from situations that are high stress or high difficulty. She is great at seeing through a client’s difficult behavior and quickly determining his or her need for care,” said Allison, speaking on behalf of the award-winning Home Instead franchise in New Braunfels that is owned by Jeremy and Sylvia Farber.
“Among the other things that stand out about Maria,” Allison pointed out, “her documentation is excellent. Following every shift, Maria leaves a great statement overviewing how her shift went and anything that might have required attention or the need to be watched during future shifts. She really helps us get a real-time feel for how her client is doing.”
Home Instead Client Care Coordinator Carla Zorowski noted: “Maria is a fantastic advocate for a client who was at a facility. She worked so greatly in communicating with facility staff, the client’s family and our office in regard to the client’s needs, updates and change of condition.”
Home Instead Service Coordinator Victoria Raxter agreed with Allison and Carla.
Victoria said: “Maria is always in touch with our office with client care or if there is a scheduling problem. If a client needs coverage, Maria is always willing to help, if possible. The only time she is not available is when she is caring for her grandkids or a client with her second agency. Recently, I spoke with an agency with whom we share a client, and Maria overlapped with that agency’s caregiver and the training the agency’s office staff member was providing that caregiver. Maria stayed to learn what the staff member was teaching. Maria’s willingness to go the extra mile in this situation impressed the office staff member.”
Maria joined Home Instead in October 2020 after hearing about Home Instead through a co-worker. Maria has worked in professional caregiving for at least 14 years, mostly in California. On July 17, Home Instead Engagement and Training Coordinator Sarina Jones announced Maria had been honored as the New Braunfels office’s Care Pro of the Quarter. Sarina said: “Maria is hard-working, dedicated and knowledgeable. She’s great at not only transferring information to other Care Pros but also helping her co-workers better serve their clients.”
It is evident Maria treats her Home Instead clients as if they were family members. In fact, Maria served in the critical role of family caregiver for her late mother, who passed away Aug. 7, 2021, at age 81 in Atwater, California, about an hour’s drive northwest of Fresno. “Last year, I had the privilege and opportunity to take care of my precious momma who was put on hospice. I went to California for a month and took care of her. I did everything to make her comfortable and happy, and feel at ease before her passing,” Maria said.
Maria said she can feel the love emanating from her Home Instead franchise. “What I love about Home Instead is how they have so much compassion for not just our clients but also for their staff. They have been a true blessing to me as well as to our clients,” she said.
When asked about memorable days with her clients, Maria said: “It is too hard to pick just one favorite story. Each one of my clients is so special to me and all have such beautiful stories that I sit there for hours and just listen. Each one of my clients has been such a true blessing. I also feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be there for each one of my clients.”
Maria added: “I like to meet my clients’ needs, make them feel loved, and see them smile and laugh. That just warms my heart so. To see their faces light up when sharing stories about their childhoods, spouses or children is such a blessing to me. To be there for my clients and their families is a true compassion I was given, and I love to use it.”
Home Instead Client Care Coordinator Amanda Edgar said: “Maria is so caring and positive. No matter what the situation is, she is calm and in control. She is dedicated to her clients and to her work. No one can replace her!”
Maria is among more than 100,000 Care Pros 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 Maria lives the Home Instead principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (830) 624-8380 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
