Compassion, empathy and skilled caregiving have been a part of Minnesota native Brenda Stifel’s personality since she was old enough to walk and talk. You might say the size of Brenda’s heart rivals that of the legendary Paul Bunyan.
“Growing up,” Brenda explained, “my family was a foster family for special-needs kids. We had as many as three at a time, and it took the entire family to assist with their needs.”
Brenda also was accustomed to family caregiving for the elderly. “Both my grandfather and uncle died of cancer. During their cancer battles, they lived in our family home so the family could assist them with their care needs,” Brenda recalled. And, for a high school job, Brenda worked in the dining room of a retirement home. She said: “I enjoyed being around seniors.”
Fast forward to 12 years ago, when Brenda moved from Minnesota to the Denver area. In her first job in Colorado, Brenda worked in professional senior care for a Denver-area agency.
“I took a break from caregiving once my parents passed away. After a few years away, I missed caring for the elderly! I had seen a Home Instead® vehicle in my neighborhood and gave them a call,” Brenda said. A little more than four years ago, Brenda joined owner Michael Lammers’ award-winning Home Instead franchise of Boulder, Broomfield and northwest Adams Counties. Home Instead’s office is in Louisville, about nine miles southeast of Boulder.
“I work in the insurance business Monday through Friday, so I am a part-time Home Instead Care Pro. Altogether, I have spent 11 years – both full time and part time – as a professional caregiver for seniors,” Brenda said. As a part-time Care Pro, Brenda’s stellar work has not gone unnoticed.
While announcing that Brenda had been honored as the franchise’s first Care Pro of the Month in 2024, Home Instead Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Brenda Munro said: “Brenda Stifel is super reliable and consistent. Having worked for us since 2019, Brenda does a couple of overnight shifts each week with us. Brenda embodies Home Instead’s guiding principles of ‘Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.’ ”
Brenda Stifel said: “I enjoy assisting seniors and hopefully increasing their quality of life and providing purpose. Their stories and candid remarks are priceless! They speak their minds, and why not? They have a lifetime of achievements and deserve to be heard.”
Recalling some of her memorable moments with her treasured Home Instead clients, Brenda said: “I took care of a memory-care client, Ms. Jean, for four years. She told me stories of her
father and what a wonderful baker he was. Ms. Jean also consistently told me over the years that her shoes were her mothers. When I would rub Ms. Jean’s arm to calm her anxiety, she would rub mine back. She loved to play with my hair whenever I dressed her. Ms. Jean reminded me of my mother. She was a witty sweetheart.”
Brenda loves being a part of the Care Pro team for the Colorado franchise, a member of a network comprised of Home Instead, Inc. and its parent company, Honor. From Broomfield to Boulder and from Longmont to Lyons, Home Instead of Louisville is the trusted source for in-home non-medical care for Front Range seniors.
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.
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (720) 890-0184 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead services, visit our website.
