Earlier this year, Anita Jackson responded to “a God Wink.”
So, what is “a God Wink?”
This is one definition: “A God Wink is an event or personal experience, often identified as coincidence, so astonishing that it is seen as a sign of divine intervention, especially when perceived as the answer to a prayer.”
Anita said her “God Wink” was a confirmation she should apply for a Care Professional job at Home Instead® of Victoria. She explained it this way: “I learned about Home Instead while working for another company. I was caring for a couple who had dementia and happened to see a Home Instead commercial. When that assignment ended 2½ years later, I took a much needed break. When I decided to return to the workforce, I remembered the Home Instead commercial.”
Anita added: “The next morning, as I was dressing, the Home Instead commercial came on again. I thought of this as a ‘God Wink’ – a confirmation – that I should apply at Home Instead. I drove to the office, where I met Maegan and Rebecca. I told them about seeing the commercial.”
Referring to Recruiting and Retention Coordinator Maegan Coldewey and Service Coordinator Rebecca Stracener in the Home Instead office, Anita said, “I talked about my experiences as a professional and family caregiver with them. Maegan, Rebecca and I were all excited. Maegan gave me an application, checked my references and worked on everything else that is done before you are hired. On Feb. 8, 2022, I became a Home Instead Care Professional.”
On June 24, 2022, Maegan announced Anita had been honored as the July Care Pro of the Month for the award-winning Home Instead franchise owned by Pietro Jordao and Dillon Rice. Anita embodies Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.” Anita is someone who is exceptional at her work with any client. While praising Anita, Maegan said: “We enjoy having Anita aboard. We love her.”
Anita’s accolade was no surprise to those who know Anita, an experienced senior-care specialist long before she joined Home Instead. In fact, Anita had owned a caregiver agency and embraced the “caregiving” part but not necessarily other aspects. “While I enjoyed working with families and caregiver employees, I had reached a point where I didn’t enjoy all of the paperwork that is required,” said Anita, who had served as a family caregiver before starting her own agency.
“My mother had dementia, and she required a lot of care. While caring for my mother, I learned a lot about dementia from both sides – as the caregiver and the family member,” Anita said. “The family caregiver requires care as well. I have taken courses on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. I also have read several books on those topics. Most of my clients have had those illnesses. I have learned a lot while caring for them.”
For Anita, assisting seniors and their families is more than just the routine of going to work every day and carrying out the necessary tasks. “For me,” she said, “caregiving is not a job but my ministry. I strive to be the Care Professional who I would want to have.”
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (361) 433-0330 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
