“Laughter is a priceless medicine that has so much power to heal and compensate. Laughter is good for the soul because it brings people together, releases tension in the environment and relaxes your nerves. Laughter is beneficial for emotional as well as physical well-being.”
Motivational Speaker Peter Cann
It was a serendipitous afternoon for Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Holly Rivera as she unexpectedly chatted for three hours with her 92-year-old client, who had recently suffered a stroke. After the client had returned from lunch with her daughter, the client took some time to relax. “I felt she wanted to talk less about her new condition and what comes with it, so I started talking about her life’s story,” Holly said.
“After three hours of conversation, we learned so much about each other. In those three hours, that was the first time I saw her smile and laugh since her recent medical episode. Not only did I make her day better by simply being a companion, but I also made her feel better by bringing a little joy into this sweet lady’s day.”
Holly had helped her client “park her worries” for an afternoon. Holly explained: “After making it back home from treatment for her stroke, the client had been struggling to get her activities of daily living (ADLs) done independently. However, with some help from us Care Pros, she advanced to meet all of her desired needs. On that memorable afternoon, her daughter was coming in and out to ensure she was all right”
Holly’s assistance for the client is a prime example of her award-winning ways. Home Instead Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Brenda Munro said: “We chose Holly as our April Care Professional of the Month because she is a representation of Home Instead’s guiding principles of ‘Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.’ Holly has worked for Home Instead for about a year and a half, taking about 25 hours per week with one of our highest-needs client. Holly is amazing with the client. Holly is also a full-time student. She is reliable and punctual, and she has never been late to work or called off sick.”
A friend tipped off Holly to owner Michael Lammers’ Home Instead franchise that covers Boulder, Broomfield and northwest Adams Counties and is based in Louisville. “I’d been talking to my friend about wanting to enter the medical field early since I was about to start nursing school. She had been working for Home Instead for about a year and had nothing but great things to say. She discussed the requirements with me and felt this would be a perfect steppingstone into the medical field. Now that I have started nursing school, this job continues to build my skills for my future nursing career. It is my first professional caregiving opportunity. Before Home Instead, I worked as a Chipotle manager, which I still do sometimes,” Holly said.
After six months with Home Instead, Holly became a part-time family caregiver for her grandmother, who has dementia. “By applying the experience of working with my Home Instead clients,” Holly said, “I felt confident in my redirecting skills and how to fulfill my grandmother’s quality of life needs. It also made me understand why these families sometimes need respite, since caring for your family takes a lot of patience. I am grateful I have gotten to experience this head-on in my life and I want to utilize all of these experiences to make me a better caregiver and granddaughter.”
Holly added: “My favorite aspect of my job is simply getting to know my clients. I love hearing about their backgrounds and all the life they have gotten to live. It’s incredible how much their stories and life experiences have taught me and given me lifelong skills I may have never learned without their input.”
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, visit our website.
