Twice-honored CAREGiver of the Month Alesha Barrio and her Home Instead Senior Care® client are on the same wavelength. When Alesha walked in the door Sept. 29, she and the client simultaneously asked each other the same question: "Did you hear that Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel will return next year?"
Alesha always has been an Astros fan, and so has her client – for maybe 50 years longer. "The client and I have bonded during our six to seven months together. One of those bonds is the Astros. We watch their games together. He has an iPad and gets ESPN's notifications about Astros, so that's one way he keeps current. The client knows everything about the Astros," said Alesha, referring to the Major League Baseball team about 130 miles from Victoria that has been in existence since 1962. For their first three seasons, the Astros were known as the "Colt 45s," before they became the first pro sports team to play in a domed stadium (the Astrodome).
Alesha works an overnight shift with the 24/7 client, who usually heads to bed at 9 o'clock each night. Sleep might come much later if the Astros are playing a night game because the client turns on his bedroom television. "Yes – he usually wants to see how they end. The man is wonderful and so sweet. He has residual back pain and Parkinson's disease. The last couple of times we've been there at night to turn him every two hours. His wife needs a little assistance with his care. She likes the help, and we are a safety net for her," Alesha said.
Alesha admires her client's determination to remain active with the business he and his son manage. "When I came in one night," Alesha said, "he was involved in a Zoom meeting with the company. You've got to hand it to both of them. They are sharp people who are nice."
Alesha joined Home Instead Senior Care of Victoria on July 19, 2019, and she was honored as CAREGiver of the Month in December 2019. Alesha was selected as the top CAREGiver again eight months later at the award-winning franchise owned by Pietro Jordao and Dillon Rice. For Recruiting and Retention Coordinator Maegan Coldewey, the choice was obvious.
Maegan said: "This sweet soul has just worked and worked since COVID-19 has been in the picture in late February and early March, along with tackling issues at home with her mother becoming ill. She has even helped us in the office as far as extending her time to help deliver packets to CAREGivers in her area."
Referring to Home Instead, Alesha said: "I love my job and my clients. My job has allowed me to build relationships. Home Instead training was helpful. I love the training and the meetings. During one meeting, the theme was Alzheimer's. I love to learn new things. I make the ongoing training sessions. I love the interaction between the CAREGivers and the trainer."
Until recently, Alesha had split her time among several clients. "I have covered clients where they need the help. I worked with a 95-year-old lady from La Salle three times a week, but I lost her as a regular client. I'm in El Campo for a good amount of time," she said. "The travel has never gotten out of hand. No matter where they send me, it's a good situation because I am working for good people. Maegan and our staffing coordinator, Emily Sanchez, are great. I never had a job where the bosses were so understanding. It's the best job I've had. Everyone is so good to me. That keeps me going."
All Home Instead Senior Care CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (361) 433-0330 or apply online at https://www.homeinstead.com/781/home-care-jobs. For further information, visit our website at https://www.homeinstead.com/781/home-instead-senior-care. Our Home Instead Senior Care office in Victoria serves these other cities: Bay City, Blessing, Bloomington, Boling, Damon, Danevang, Eagle Lake, East Bernard, Edna, El Campo, El Maton, Ganado, Garwood, Goliad, Guy, Hallettsville, Inez, Lolita, Louise, Markham, Matagorda, Meyersville, Midfield, Needville, Palacios, Pledger, Van Vleck, Wadsworth, Wallis, Weimar and Wharton. Our office address is 104 Kelly Drive Suite B, Victoria, Texas 77904
Rewarding Care Careers in Victoria, TX
