CAREGiver of the Month Uju Ekwomadu knows life is a series of adjustments. Generally speaking, as we age, it is harder to adjust to abrupt twists and turns. Uju empathizes and compassionately helps her Home Instead Senior Care® clients who face such challenges.
Uju is assisting an 89-year-old client who lost her husband, 90, in September 2019. As the husband’s CAREGiver, Uju was with him when he died. Their daughter said, “Uju was a true professional when my father passed.” Family members then asked Uju to take care of their mother, who was hospitalized at the time of her husband’s death.
As the wife travels the difficult, uncharted path of being a widow, Uju has been with her every step of the way. “Before she left the hospital, I helped her. She is sharp. She returned to her home and doesn’t want to move,” Uju explained. “She understandably has had a lot of emotional problems after her husband’s death, but she’s getting better.”
The client had 24/7 coverage during her first two weeks after returning home from the hospital. “She needed full-time care then. She’s made big gains emotionally,” Uju explained. “Previously, I was with her Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Now it’s Mondays and Wednesdays, and I help her from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Now she is stronger and is better at doing things by herself. With personal care, I stay close by. She doesn’t like using a walker, but I remind her because she is a fall risk, and I take preventative measures.”
Whenever the client finds herself in a down mood, Uju lets her know she’s blessed. “I mention she had 70 years of a great marriage. She’s had children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Then she agrees and says, ‘I am blessed,’ ” Uju said.
The client, who had begun to venture out with Uju’s help, now stays home because of the COVID-19 virus. “One of her daughters is in nursing, so the client understands the COVID-19 situation. We talked about it to reinforce the importance of staying vigilant,” Uju said. “However, the client watches the TV news channels and undergoes emotional stress from taking in too much COVID-19 coverage. In addition to the general day-after-day coverage, she’s got investments and wants to watch how the stock market is doing. I let her know, ‘Let’s watch just a little and turn the channel.’ ”
If the client has had an overload of COVID-19 coverage, Uju said: “I am able to talk her down. I’ve suggested not watching the all-day television news so much. I told her it wasn’t good for her. I don’t want her to worry about it. I’ve said, ‘Let’s turn it off and look for another channel.’ So, she watches more Hallmark Channel movies.”
Uju also is working with a client who will turn 99 in May. “It’s going fine. She is a new client. I am helping her on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.,” Uju said.
The patchwork of assignments works well for Uju, whose goal is reaching medical school. “I am continuing with online classes, so the coronavirus hasn’t shut down my classwork. When you’re busy and something like this comes up, you’re naturally surprised. I am following up on college education in my native country of Nigeria. My goal is to get into medical school and become a neurosurgeon. I am doing my best and am hopeful,” Uju said.
She praised the Home Instead Senior Care office staff for matching her with such compatible clients. Uju joined owner Greg Gomez-Mira’s Home Instead franchise during the summer of 2019 and was honored as CAREGiver of the Month in August 2019. Her second CAREGiver of the Month award was announced in March 2020 by Scheduling Coordinator Rebecca Garcia.
Client Care Coordinator and Office Manager Destiny Wesley said: “Uju has proved to be a gem. We’ve received rave reviews about Uju. That’s why she is CAREGiver of the Month.”
Home Instead CAREGivers, who are screened, trained, bonded and insured, provide a variety of non-medical services to help keep seniors independent. For inquiries about employment with Home Instead Senior Care, please call (713) 955-1909, email Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Margi Kenny at margi.kenny@homeinstead.com or fill in the email prompts at our Home Care Jobs page. Home Instead Senior Care also accepts online applications to become an in-home caregiver. For further information about the company, visit Home Instead Senior Care, or to learn more about the company's senior home care services, view our digital brochure. Our Home Instead Senior Care franchise serves Houston, Arcola, Bellaire, First Colony, Fresno, Greatwood, Iowa Colony, Lake Olympia, Meyer Park, Meyerland, Missouri City, Pearland, Quail Valley, Riverstone, Rosharon, Shadow Creek Ranch, Sienna Plantation, Stafford, Sugar Land, Sunnyside, Sweetwater, Thompsons and Westbury.
