Lisa Noticed CAREGivers, Wanted to Join Home Instead
Lisa Ehret, a CNA since 2004, was working for an assisted living facility in Florida when she noticed Home Instead® CAREGivers coming into the building to take care of some residents. The CAREGivers were providing a personal touch for longer periods of time than any CNA could possibly afford to do in the normal hustle and bustle of a crowded care community.
“I would ask the CAREGivers about Home Instead, and I got really good replies, so I applied at a Home Instead franchise in Florida. That’s how I began my Home Instead journey,” said Lisa, who has worked at assisted-living facilities, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities and for agencies such as Home Instead.
“I started in the nursing field because my former husband was a quadriplegic, and I took care of him. I decided to apply at an assisted living facility, and I worked there for quite some time. Then I joined an in-home care agency and went back and forth to assisted living.”
After moving to North Carolina, Lisa was pleasantly surprised to discover a Home Instead office in Mount Airy, where owners Van and Ann Lankford have directed an award-winning franchise for the past 10 years. With Lisa, Home Instead added a seasoned and highly skilled senior-care professional to their already outstanding team of CAREGivers. Lisa has worked with clients who had Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, autism and other disabilities.
“The toughest challenge I think I’ve had was working with Alzheimer’s residents or clients. Sometimes it’s hard to see them descend into different stages, and then their last stage is death. Sometimes it’s difficult to understand their mind and their ways. You must enter their world to empathize with that person. As CAREGivers, we have to understand the way they function,” explained Lisa, who was honored as Mount Airy’s CAREGiver of the Month for July.
While Lisa’s dementia-care experience and compassion have an unusually strong depth, it’s notable to also point out that CAREGivers are offered the opportunity to increase their dementia-care skills by taking part in the Home Instead network’s one-of-a-kind training protocol. Home Instead’s Person-Centered Care Training for Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias is recognized by the Alzheimer’s Association® for incorporating the evidence-based dementia-care practice recommendations in these topic areas: Alzheimer’s and dementia, person-centered care, assessment and care planning, activities of daily living, and behaviors and communication.
Lisa made these points about her job:
- “To be a CAREGiver, you have to be compassionate and have a good heart.”
- “I enjoy one-on-one care and catering to the clients’ everyday needs.”
- “A good thing about working for Home Instead is that you can listen to the clients’ stories and learn what they have been through in their lives. Some are most interesting.”
One of Lisa’s clients wants to live life to the fullest and loves to have Lisa take her out for breakfast. “She is strong willed and will not give up. I give her a lot of credit. She pushes herself every day to try to stay strong. I admire her for that,” Lisa said. “She will help me fold her laundry and help me put the groceries away. She loves to get her hair washed. She likes to tell little stories about her past. I am glad to be her CAREGiver.”
Lisa pointed out that she enjoys working for Home Instead because the office staff members have calculated the correct level of care for each client. “The office staff members are wonderful and always are there when you need them or have questions. I have to say my journey with Home Instead has been a great experience. I am very grateful to be a part of their team,” she said.
All Home Instead CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (336) 789-4472 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
