CAREGiver of the Month Sarah Price has had an almost supernatural impact on her Home Instead® clients and their family members.
“Sarah has truly been an angel to those who are in their darkest and scariest times of their lives. I couldn’t be prouder of how she’s handled each challenge, including the biggest ones. I’m confident in saying Sarah is the perfect example of a person who will try any challenge once and not just to try once but continues to try for as long as she can. Sarah truly gives it her all each day,” said Maegan Coldewey, recruiting and retention coordinator for the award-winning Home Instead franchise in Victoria that’s owned by Pietro Jordao and Dillon Rice.
While announcing Sarah’s CAREGiver of the Month honor, Maegan noted the various assignments Sarah has received since joining Home Instead on March 9, 2020.
- “Sarah went to a ‘heavy hitter’ clients who needed a lot of care and lived in an extremely dynamic household. Sarah worked really hard until the travel became a bit much.”
- “Sarah started with another client who wanted only her. Sarah was the only CAREGiver for whom the client ‘behaved.’ But the client became ill and moved to a facility.”
- “Sarah then became a part of a family where the mother’s health was failing. We all thought she had more time but unfortunately not. Sarah performed at the most professional level we could have ever asked. The family was forever grateful for Sarah and her compassion for their mother in her last few days.”
- “After that client, Sarah worked with a client almost with the same situation as her last one. As he slowly declined, the family added more hours so Sarah could be there for him and his daughter as well. After his passing, we decided to give Sarah a little ‘emotional’ break because we could only imagine how difficult her last few months had been.”
- “After resting, Sarah came back refreshed. She’s with a client who is a daily challenge. Since her Alzheimer’s is extremely advanced, she’s combative at times and is a constant walker/marcher. Sarah’s one-day-at-a time mantra is the only reasonable approach.”
Maegan is grateful Sarah tried Home Instead when she was looking for a career change. “From interview and orientation day to today,” Maegan said, “I can honestly say she has surpassed the high quality of work that needs to be provided to her clients and this company.”
Sarah found Home Instead through her boyfriend. He had a friend who had worked for Home Instead, and the friend said it was a great experience and a wonderful company with which to work. Sarah recalled: “She said that would be especially a plus for me because I would just be starting my adventure with professional caregiving.”
Sarah added: “I was a housekeeper before I started working for Home Instead. As a housekeeper, I realized I enjoyed being with my elderly clients and talking and chatting with them more than just cleaning their homes. So, I thought I would look into professional senior care and give it a shot. Well, a year later, I’m still with Home Instead and still enjoying my clients.”
Sarah pointed out she had never worked in senior care nor had she been a family caregiver for the elderly before coming to Home Instead. “But,” she said, “I really had enjoyed talking with seniors I had met.”
“Sarah’s favorite aspect about being the Home Instead CAREGiver team involves her franchise’s management culture. “I’d like to point out how caring and understanding the office staff members and co-owners are about both us CAREGivers and their clients. The office staff takes into consideration our needs and requirements on a day-to-day basis. It’s very hard to find a company that is willing to help its employees and work around its employees’ schedules the way Home Instead does. And I love the fact that Home Instead’s staff is so dedicated and aware of what its CAREGivers need to do their jobs. I love working for Home Instead,” she said.
“I have loved all of my clients, but I did have a client who was special. We really bonded, and she loved to talk about her very eventful life and all of her travels. It really filled my heart to be with her, and I enjoyed every moment.”
All Home Instead CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (361) 433-0330 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
