Makayla Always Has Connected Well With Seniors
Years ago, the seniors who regularly traversed one of the big-box stores in Jackson knew who to seek when help was needed or for a friendly checkout. That familiar smiling face was Makayla Smith’s. Those seniors could count on a warm chat with someone who was patient with them. On July 17, 2019, Makayla found an even better job fit – she became a Care Professional for Home Instead® of Jackson, an award-winning franchise owned by Bryson and Linda McQuiston.
“I worked at that big-box store for five years, and I was always attentive and helpful to the seniors who came in. I’d take my time with them while checking them out and would turn my light out so they could get well-adjusted and didn’t feel rushed,” Makayla recalled.
While Makayla hasn’t done any family caregiving for elderly relatives yet, she did have a “family” of senior retail customers, and now she has a “family” that includes Home Instead clients and their family members. That approach to taking care of seniors has not gone unnoticed. Client and Care Professional Experience Manager Brooke Childers recently announced Makayla had been honored as one of the franchise’s two Care Pro Cornerstone Award recipients for the first quarter of 2022. It’s easy to see Makayla lives the Home Instead® guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”
Brooke said: “Makayla will, without a doubt, ensure that ‘her folks’ are well taken care of. She shares her beautiful smile with everyone with whom she comes into contact. Makayla is a joy to work with, and I love how compassionate she is. Makayla is her clients’ advocate and works hard for them.”
Home Instead General Manager Mike Murphy said: “Makayla radiates positivity, and she makes a client feel important by being generous with her time and attention even when she has many tasks to complete in the home. She’s everyone’s No. 1 choice, and she lives out the personable nature of this business in her own life.”
Makayla saw a Home Instead flyer while she was at the Department of Human Services office, and she applied online with the Home Instead office that serves West Tennessee. The Home Instead network is the world’s leading provider of in-home care services for older adults, with more than 1,200 independently owned and operated franchises that provide care throughout the United States and 13 other countries.
Makayla said: “What I like most about my job is being able to have one-on-one time with my clients and being there for them by talking and enjoying our time together. One memorable day occurred when my client and I drove all the way to Milan, for absolutely nothing, but we had the best little road trip listening to The Temptations and jamming out.”
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (731) 984-7062 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
