Bibi Sees a Clear Career Path Because of Home Instead
Welcome to Home Instead® of Ocala’s CAREGiver Spotlight. Each month, one of our amazing CAREGivers will be randomly selected to share their story with their peers — YOU. We know you will enjoy reading and learning more about Bibi.
Working for Home Instead of Ocala has given CAREGiver Bibi a direction in life.
“I started contemplating what I wanted in a professional career as I ventured out. After a few months of working for Home Instead and completing my GED, Home Instead has basically lighted the path for the direction I want to pursue to be a nurse,” said Bibi, who has been with the award-winning Home Instead franchise for a year.
“I am currently in school, trying to complete nursing classes while I aiming to be an LPN. That completion would occur this year after 12 months of academic work. Then, I’d have two years of college classes that would move me toward becoming a register nurse. I see myself becoming an emergency-room nurse after I have attained my degree and passed the certifications.”
Bibi added: “I previously had never really cared for school, but Home Instead has been like my family to push me for bigger and brighter things. I remember former Home Instead General Manager Dana Issacs once telling me that ‘education is the key to success,’ and I have never forgotten that.”
Bibi found Home Instead online when she was looking for a flexible job while Bibi was attending Marion Technical College in Ocala to attain her GED. Franchise owner Carolyn Quintanilla’s office serves Marion County, including Ocala, Silver Springs, Belleview and Summerfield. “I remember wanting to do something at which I am good,” Bibi explained.
Bibi knew she had the compassion and empathy to work for Home Instead, and she figured she already had acquired some senior-care skills out of necessity because of her role as a family caregiver.
“I am assisting my grandma who is 96, and I am the one who helps her bathe and organizes her pillbox,” Bibi said. “I have learned a lot of things from taking care of my grandma. She has motivated me to be the very best CAREGiver I can be. I try to make my clients feel loved and safe with me. While living with my grandma, I learned useful things such as taking a blood pressure reading, testing for blood sugar and using shower-assist techniques.”
Bibi added: “I am living with family members because my parents want to live in South America, and my brother is stationed in Georgia as a U.S. soldier. I try to make my time useful and work for Home Instead while going to school so I can pay my rent, car loan and insurance. It makes me feel independent and I love that.”
Bibi also loves being a part of the CAREGiver team for the Carolyn’s Florida franchise, a member of a highly successful network founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Paul and Lori Hogan. The Home Instead network is the world’s leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,200 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 80 million hours of care annually throughout the U.S. and 13 other countries.
“I love the fact that Home Instead is so willing to help if you have an issue. They try to fix it so both patient and employee are happy. I love that I get the chance to meet amazing people. My clients and I know I have made a difference and put a smile on their faces,” Bibi said.
Bibi will never forget how she has connected with a client on a musical basis, even though her precious and memorable time with the client has come in a fill-in role. “When I first I went to this client, I was myself hoping she would love me, and she did. During a night shift, we stayed up talking about her career as a nurse,” Bibi said.
“I am a singer, so I love classic oldies from the 1930s to 1950s. We were singing songs of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis. I found the songs with lyrics for her so we both can follow along and sing. She felt so happy. She wanted to hug me before bed for making the few hours exciting, but because of the pandemic we can’t and we shook hands instead. She sanitized, and I sanitized. It was wonderful to see how happy my personality made her feel. After a few weeks of my shift, she sent a card to thank me for my style of care, and it made me emotional. When you have a personality that’s true and you don’t put on a show just to impress someone, your very own self will amaze people.”
Bibi added: “I am grateful for Home Instead to open the door for me. I am grateful for Jim and Mary Samuelson, our former owners, for giving me a chance. I’m excited for what is coming my way.”
All Home Instead CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (352) 622-6447 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
