CAREGiver of the Month

When Home Instead® CAREGiver of the Month Renuka gazes at her clients, she thinks of her precious grandmother, who passed away at the age of 87 in 2018 as a result of a stroke. In her mind’s eye, the visions of her beloved grandmother are vivid ones that evoke a plethora of warm memories. It is easy to see that Renuka was proud to serve as one of her grandmother’s family caregivers. “I shared a profound connection with my grandmother, immersing myself in her invaluable life lessons. I gleaned the virtues of love, respect, kindness and compassion from her. Of course, she is no longer present in my life in a physical sense,” Renuka said. “On the days she was hospitalized, I found myself unable to be by her side as I was pursuing my nursing career in India, separated from my home country of Nepal.” Renuka added: “That experience has fueled my deep-seated desire to extend the care I couldn’t provide to my grandmother to those in need. My commitment to a nursing career is not merely a profession but a heartfelt dedication to honoring her memory by offering compassionate care to others facing health challenges.”

Renuka was a registered nurse in her homeland of Nepal. She has almost five years of clinical experience in hospitals, mainly in oncology and medical intensive care units, where Renuka had the privilege of assisting patients with diverse needs. “My commitment to providing compassionate and personalized care has been a consistent theme throughout my career. I am dedicated to positively impacting the lives of those I serve, I am incredibly grateful to the Home Instead organization for this excellent opportunity,” Renuka said. “What drew me to Home Instead was its exceptional reputation for providing high-quality, personalized care to seniors. The emphasis on compassion and respect, and fostering a supportive environment resonated with my values. As someone passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of others, joining Home Instead felt like a natural fit. Since I started working with Home Instead clients, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the well-being of our clients, and it’s been a rewarding experience that aligns perfectly with my commitment to meaningful caregiving,” said Renuka.

Home Instead® CAREGiver of the Month Ngozichukwu, also known as Ngozi, will never forget a fun, spontaneous client with whom she had created a strong bond. While their time together could be delightfully different each day, the end of the shift always ended the same way. “When it was time to leave, my client would say, ‘I don’t want you to leave. I feel safe when you are around me.’ That statement would always bring tears to my eyes. That was always one thing that was
constant with my client. It gave me a sense of meaning and helped me find fulfillment, knowing that I had made an impact on her,” Ngozi recalled. Ngozi added: “With Mrs. M., each shift was always a different story or planned mischief that we never got to accomplish. It’s either, ‘Let’s plan how to climb on a table in the middle of the dining hall where we can dance so we could get thrown out,’ or ‘We should sing our lungs out around people just for the laughs.’ Mrs. M. sometimes would say, ‘How do you find it so easy to laugh so much?’ or ‘You need to find a boyfriend instead of staying with an old woman like me’ or ‘I am eating, drinking or taking this walk because it is you who are with me.’

Ngozi described how her journey with Home Instead began. “I heard about Home Instead from Mrs. Salome, who is a Personal Support Worker with Home Instead. I will be forever grateful to her for this opportunity,” Ngozi explained. “When she found out I was looking for a job,she asked if I had experience with caregiving and if I would love to work with Home Instead. I gave her an affirmative answer.”.Speaking from her heart, Ngozi said: “Being a CAREGiver, for me, is a fulfillment, not a job. There is a saying that, ‘If you can be anything, be kind.’ No matter how much you are being taught inside the four walls of a school, if you do not have compassion in you, you will never have fun caring for others.”
Ngozi pointed out that care, compassion, kindness and empathy “are all inbuilt mechanisms.” She elaborated: “For some people, that internal drive to help others is pronounced – it is obvious. While for others, it isn’t.” Ngozi noted that she “had stumbled into being a caregiver from a young age” – not as a professional – but as one who just cares more about other people.

“What I like most about my Home Instead job are the joy and smiles I see on the faces of the people for whom I care. It brings me so much happiness. So do the life stories that the clients share with me, the life lessons that they teach me and the free hugs I get with all their love and
emotions put into them,” Ngozi said

A bittersweet family caregiving experience ultimately led Sharon to Home Instead® of Guelph, Ontario, where she was honoured as CAREGiver of the Month in December, nearly four months after she had joined the award-winning franchise.
The experience occurred in Sharon’s homeland of Nigeria, where she received the opportunity to take care of her grandmother a few months before she passed away. The sweet part of the experience evolved when Sharon’s bond with her grandmother grew stronger during that trying time, Sharon felt fulfillment from serving her dying elder. “I got to know my grandma better, and she became my best friend. Ever since then, I have loved taking care of others and helping them with their daily activities,” Sharon explained.

You could feel the pride in Sharon’s words as she revealed the impetus to enter professional caregiving. But there also was a feeling of sadness because she had lost a senior loved one during the ordeal. The silver lining is that Sharon now compassionately takes care of Home Instead clients as if they were her family members. She had plenty of training before arriving in Ontario. Sharon embodies Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.” For Sharon, touching lives impacts her soul, whether she is providing physical help such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders or personal care or if she is offering emotional support in a companionship role.

“What I like most about my job is getting the privilege to put a smile on my clients’ faces when they see me come into their homes. I love receiving the chance to be able to take care of them and make them comfortable even while being professional,” Sharon explained. “When I think of a memorable day, I recall when a client’s daughter told me the client was moody and had been agitated all day. I was supposed to be there for a two-hour shift. When I got to the home, the client saw me enter. She started smiling, pecking me and giving me a big hug. I felt loved and happy that I could generate the smiles before my shift ended.”

Caregiver of the Month Manpreet won’t ever forget Ms. R., Manpreet’s first dementia client with Home Instead of Guelph. It has been almost a year since Manpreet began helping Ms. R., who is in her 80s and needs 24-hour care.“Because she was my first dementia client,” Manpreet said, “I was worried before I started with her. I thought, ‘How will I take care of her?’ But after working my first shift with Ms. R., I realized that assisting a dementia client was not as hard as I thought.” While Manpreet pointed out, “It’s our responsibility as Caregivers to do our best to understand our clients,”
Manpreet noted there initially was a communication barrier because Ms. R. doesn’t speak much at all, and she speaks Italian. “If she talks,” Manpreet said, “she uses her native Italian language. I started to learn a few Italian words so it would be easier for her to understand me. She enjoyed music, so I play Italian music in her room. We share a special bond.” Suddenly, something happened two months ago with the client. The long-term care facility staff transferred her to
the hospital because of a sudden deterioration in her health. Her family was with her at that time.

Manpreet revealed: “I fully realized my attachment to my client when I was on my way for her shift and received a call from our office about her hospitalization. When I returned home, I felt so sad for her. I prayed for her health. I called the staff for updates.” The client returned to the long-term care facility after a week, but she went on palliative care. “That was unbelievable to me. I went there, and her daughter was crying. I told her, ‘Your mother will get well soon.’ It was such good news that she recovered well enough in three or four days that she was able to eat and walk. Now, she is in better health,”Manpreet said.“I wanted to be a CAREGiver because this work keeps me grounded,” Manpreet said. “I get to appreciate the life I have, and I get to genuinely make a positive difference in someone’s life. Caregiving is an extremely rewarding job. I am the kind of person who likes children and seniors most, because I believe they are innocent and loving souls.” 

                                            Clients wife tell Uthman: 'You are a lifesaver'.                          Caregiver of the month Uthman was sad and then immediately felt a deep void. One day during a shift, the Home Instead Guelph office called with word that his first male client , 97, had passed away. It was just a few days after the client had been admitted to a hospital. "It was so tragic and left me sad for the rest of my shift," said Uthman. "I regretted that I didn't really get to hear stories because of his medical condition." Enter the late client's widow, who "filled in the blanks" and lifted Uthman's spirits. "His wife and I had some special moments. She told me about how they met and got married in Newfoundland before they moved o Ontario. She also spoke of their lifelong love story and challenges they faced in their marriage. She gave me a little tour of their house. She showed me the album pictures and the family trees of both their parents, their kids, grandkids and great-grandkids," Uthman recounted.

Jinalben B: it was an honour and privilege to take care of her grandfather as a family caregiver. “My grandfather was the first family member to whom I offered to help. He was in his 80s and frequently was very sick. I reminded him about his medicines, exercise timings and other routine activities,” said Jinalben as she recalled her tender times in her homeland of India, where she later served as an orthopedic nurse. “My grandfather forgot many things, such as his loved ones’ birthdays and other important days, so I helped him memorize these events. I made a schedule for his daily activities along with medication reminders.” Jinal expresses that taking care of her grandparents gave her the privileged
opportunity to showcase her skills that later helped her professionally. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree, Jinal moved to Canada where she joined Home Instead in February of 2023. Navjot feels fortunate to work at Home Instead because of the relationships she has cultivated along the way. One of her most memorable clients is Ms. L., who resides at a nursing home. “She is a very generous and kind person who is fond of stitching clothes and keeping herself updated about the global events,”
Jinalben said. “She inspires me by her willingness and positive approach toward any situation, no matter how difficult it is. Ms. L. also admires my knitting skills. I once prepared a woolly jacket for her. She was very happy and was thankful for my efforts.” Jinalben, thank you for being a ray of sunshine and the most hard-working CAREGiver! You are the best!

Moya M - CAREGiver of the Month Moya works with a client who has dementia. During many of her shifts, the client is amazed at Moya’s senior-care skills, companionship and her youthful appearance. Moya said: “My client asks what grade I’m in. She thinks now that I am no longer in grade school. I reveal my age each time I see her, but she sometimes still thinks I’m 12! She recently has been remembering my age, but she still asks if I’m old enough to take her to the store by myself. It’s all good. In fact, my favorite moment is seeing this dear client each day when I come to assist her.” Although Moya may look young in some seniors eyes, Moya has worked with both seniors and kids. Moya said, “I had worked with children as a camp leader for ages 4 to 12. The thing I enjoy most about being at Home Instead, is the fact it is way more relaxing than working with kids.” Service Coordinator, Madeleine Boyd said “Moya has been our most dedicated and helpful CAREGiver this month. She has exemplified what it means to have a tremendous work ethic. I think it might be more relaxed for her because caring for seniors truly is her calling!” Moya has been a CAREGiver at Home Instead for 3 months while she completes nursing school. She also spends a lot of time grocery shopping and baking with her grandma and has inherited many life lessons she is excited to pass down to her future grandchildren. With Home Instead, Moya said “I enjoy the mutual grandchild-to-grandparent relationship with each client as we are able to make jokes and do fun activities. My clients also teach me about life and how to grow as a CG.

Jaspreet chose to work at Home Instead with her sterling resume once she arrived to the Toronto-area,
all the way from India. Jaspreet graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and did her
postgraduate work in sociology. Jaspreet has a rich record of experience, having worked as a registered
nurse in India for nine years and as a family caregiver. Joining Home Instead in November of 2022,
Jaspreet said: “I chose Home Instead because I found the staff very fascinating, supportive and got my
queries answered on the day of the interview.” Jaspreet also noted: “It’s always a family feeling at Home
Instead.” Jaspreet has always felt the connection to serve as a CAREGiver because she had taken care of
her grandmother for two years and assisted her in all activities of daily living. Jaspreet explained: “I have
become familiar with challenging behaviors and have adjusted my care techniques accordingly.
Sometimes there can be parallels in senior care, for instance, taking care of my daughter. Mind-sets and
clarity can vary widely. The point is, I believe you must do what serves the senior best.” Jaspreet has done
an exceptional job at going above and beyond the call of duty as she demonstrates empathy,
compassion and fulfillment from serving for others. Service Coordinator, Madeleine Boyd pointed out:
“Jaspreet has been the most dependable, hard-working and motivated CAREGiver this month.” The
Home Instead team thanks you Jaspreet, for all that you do!

Ramandeep puts herself in her clients shoes as her empathy is one of her best qualities. It helps her connect with the pain and sorrow so many of her senior clients are experiencing as they strive to remain independent and cope with illness and the ravages of aging. With just four months at Home Instead as a PSW, these emotional skills and caring abilities for older adults makes Ramandeep our caregiver of the month! Ramandeep came to her caregiving career with a moving personal experience caring for a loved one. “I had an aunt who was disabled, and she was unable to complete her activities of daily living – those tasks like meal preparation and personal care that enable someone to remain safely at home. So, I would assist her in preparing food, bathing and housekeeping. We were very close.” Ramandeep felt inner satisfaction helping others, which helped pave the way for her future career as a PSW. With years of professional experience and training, Ramandeep continues her education in personal care at Conestoga College. Thank you for everything Ramandeep!

In 2020, Riddhi fulfilled a dream and earned her Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree at Bhavnagar University in her homeland of India. From December 2020 to December 2021, she worked as an associate dentist at a clinic in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in westcentral India.

Riddhi also dove into family caregiving. “My whole family got COVID-19 in 2020 except me. They were all quarantined in different rooms of my home. I did care for my family. At that time, my family and I realized how hard it was to give care to another person. But in the end, I got lots of blessings and happiness,” Riddhi said. It was during that time that Riddhi came to several life-changing realizations: “After becoming a dentist, it became clear to me that I love helping people who are in need. And I wanted to try what for me was a brave new frontier, so I moved to Canada. The family caregiving episodes related to COVID-19 inspired me to work as a Personal Support Worker (PSW) after coming to Canada. Also after arriving here in Canada, I returned to school and then started working as a PSW at a retirement home in Cambridge, Ontario, in March 2022. The job not only gave me immense joy but also brought satisfaction.”

Then, seven months ago, a friend told Riddhi about her job at Home Instead® of Guelph. “My friend referred me to Home Instead and told me about many things, including the Home Instead perks, such things as Home Instead’s flexible schedules and friendly staff. Therefore, I joined Home Instead,” said Riddhi, who earned a degree in health-care administration and leadership management at Conestoga College in January 2022.

Riddhi said: “What I like most about my job is my flexibility and the friendly nature of the staff as well as the respect and motivation I receive every day. I have worked with one client for a few months. She is a very friendly and kind-hearted person. My client loves to talk about different places she’s traveled and the popular food dishes. She gave me a lot of information about popular tourist places in Canada. She also told me a lot of inspirational stories from her own experience. I learned a new thing every time when I went there.”

Janica, who arrived in Canada with her husband in December 2021 from their Filipino homeland, had worked for seven years as a registered nurse in the geriatric ward of a hospital in the Philippines. She also had worked in the intensive-care ward at the hospital.

“My husband and I are both registered nurses from our homeland, where we earned our Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. I learned about Home Instead from my husband, who started at Home Instead before I did. He enjoyed the job just as I do, but he left Home Instead to take classes that will lead to his RN certification here, and he also is working in a rehabilitation facility as a form of his practicum,” Janica said.

Janica’s original start in senior care can actually be traced to age 8 or 9 as a family caregiver. “I grew up in a multi-generational home in which my grandparents lived with us. I was helping them at a young age. They are still doing well. It was an honour to assist them, and thereby also assisting the rest of our family,” Janica said.

To be named CAREGiver of the Month status, an employee has shown she has gone above and beyond the call of duty. Empathy and compassion are taken into account for the award, as well as skill and wisdom for dealing with challenging situations. Janica embodies Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart,” Michelle said. Janica and her fellow CAREGivers not only assist their clients, but help their families eliminate worry, reduce stress and re-establish personal freedom.

“I see myself remaining with Home Instead for a good while. I like the staff, and they are flexible and communicate well,” Janica said. “I love what I am doing and am comfortable with it, and I feel I would not want to have to adjust to something different. This is good.”

Wherever Karuna has gone, people have wanted to follow. It started at an overseas hospital intensive care unit, where Karuna spent five years as a registered nurse, rising to the role of the unit’s lead rn. When Karuna’s patients were released to return home, they’d come by the nurses’ station to hug Karuna and thank her for their care. It was no surprise when recruitment and engagement coordinator Michelle Hefford announced Karuna had been honoured as the Guelph franchise’s care professional of the month for February. Karuna embodies Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart”. People can feel the empathy and compassion emanating from Karuna’s presence. They also are keenly aware of the superior caregiving skills of the Nepali native who earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and became a Registered Nurse. “The resolution of my life is to give my best and attempt to be the very best human being to those whom i serve. I have a passion to help others. I try to make people happy. As a family caregiver, I helped many family members,” Karuna said. Karuna loves being a part of the Care Pro team for the Ontario franchise, a member of a network comprised of Home Instead, inc. and its parent company, Honor. With the world’s largest home-care network and the most advanced care platform, Honor and Home Instead are revolutionizing care for older adults, their families and Care Pros.

Catherine has made quite an impact at Home Instead® of Guelph since her recent arrival at the award-winning Ontario franchise. While announcing Catherine had been honoured as the office’s CAREGiver of the Month for January, Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Michelle Hefford said: “Catherine has been a great addition to our team! She has great experience and knowledge, and she has always been very reliable.”

When she announced Catherine had been selected as CAREGiver of the Month, Michelle said Catherine displays Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.” Catherine is a quiet, humble worker who chooses to let her actions speak for herself. For Catherine, touching lives impacts her soul, whether she is providing physical help such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders or personal care or if she is offering emotional support in an empathetic role.

It is evident Catherine loves being a part of the CAREGiver team for owner Brenda Enright’s franchise, a member of a network comprised of Home Instead, Inc. and its parent company, Honor. With the world’s largest home-care network and the most advanced care platform, Honor and Home Instead are revolutionizing care for older adults, their families and CAREGivers. Combined, the network has more than 100,000 CAREGivers across 13 countries, meeting the growing needs of millions of older adults and their families worldwide.

“I started working with Home Instead in July. I was looking for a part-time job, and I applied online for this job,” Navneet recalled. She made a huge, immediate impression on her clients and their family members, Home Instead Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Michelle Hefford said. The award-winning Home Instead office staff quickly took notice.

Those who know Navneet were not surprised when she was honoured a little more than 100 days after joining Home Instead. Yes, she was a Home Instead “newbie” last summer, but she arrived as a highly educated and experienced professional. A native of India, Navneet earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in her homeland, became a registered nurse and began gaining professional experience. She already had served as a family caregiver before her college days.

Navneet, who arrived in Canada in 2019. Since then, she has been working in the healthcare field as a professional caregiver. “I want to assist people so I can make their lives beautiful by helping them in their daily living activities. That’s what I love the most about Home Instead. The staff provides me with opportunity to make it possible,” Navneet said.

“I started working with Home Instead in July. I was looking for a part-time job, and I applied online for this job,” Navneet recalled. She made a huge, immediate impression on her clients and their family members, Home Instead Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Michelle Hefford said. The award-winning Home Instead office staff quickly took notice.

Those who know Navneet were not surprised when she was honoured a little more than 100 days after joining Home Instead. Yes, she was a Home Instead “newbie” last summer, but she arrived as a highly educated and experienced professional. A native of India, Navneet earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in her homeland, became a registered nurse and began gaining professional experience. She already had served as a family caregiver before her college days.

Navneet, who arrived in Canada in 2019. Since then, she has been working in the healthcare field as a professional caregiver. “I want to assist people so I can make their lives beautiful by helping them in their daily living activities. That’s what I love the most about Home Instead. The staff provides me with opportunity to make it possible,” Navneet said.

Working as a CAREGiver for Home Instead® of Guelph, Ontario, does something extraordinary for Lisa’s soul. “I like finding a purpose in life,” Lisa said. “I like getting up in the morning and knowing I have someone to take care of. It is a wonderful feeling. With one lady client I have, I can make her smile, which is gratifying for me.”

For Lisa’s clients, the warm feeling is mutual. She provides an atmosphere of security and safety.

Eleven months after joining Home Instead in November 2021, Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Michelle Hefford announced Lisa had been honoured as the franchise’s CAREGiver of the Month. “Lisa is amazing and always goes above and beyond for our clients,” Michelle said. When Michelle proclaimed the good news, she added: “Lisa displays Home Instead’s guiding principles of ‘Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.’ ” Focusing on Home Instead’s training, processes and procedures of successful caregiving helped Lisa achieve CAREGiver of the Month status at the award-winning franchise, Michelle explained.

Lisa was asked, “With many options available to you, what drew you specifically to Home Instead?” She answered: “I saw a Home Instead television commercial and thought, ‘I can do that.’ I was in a rut, and I thought I could help someone out there.”

When Susan decided to “unretire,” Home Instead® of Guelph, Ontario, welcomed her with open arms. “I had been retired from my previous job in long-term care as a Personal Support Worker (PSW) for about a year, and I felt a real desire to re-enter work in home care,” said Susan, who joined Home Instead in April.

In 2006, Susan graduated from Lambton College in Sarnia, Ontario, as a PSW. She worked with VON Home and Community Care, Bayshore Health Care and Lambton Elderly Outreach. “I gained a wealth of experience and knowledge, and I continue to enjoy working as a health-care provider. Over the years, I have had some truly extraordinary moments with individuals who made me understand how important this work is,” Susan said..

“This field of work may be challenging at times, but I love it because I know I am making a difference in someone’s life. The love, appreciation and connection I receive from my clients and their families is very satisfying and uplifting,” Susan said.

Natalia is the CAREGiver of the Month at the Guelph Home Instead R office. since Natalia joined Home Instead at the end if May, the award winning franchise has benefited from Natalia's single minded focus on helping others while also per suing her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.
Entering her fourth year of Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Calgary, Natalia has been exposed to a vast variety of health-care settings and has worked with various patients and clients with different challenges. College education is an extremely important element in Natalia's journey, but her "ruubber-meets-the-road" senior-care experience began earlier - in high school - when she volunteered at Charwell Langley Gardens in British Columbia, where she grew up.
Describing the essence of compassionate care, Natalia added: " Whenever I am working as a Personal Support Worker with Home Instead or as a nursing student, I imagine that whoever I am taking care of is a loved one of mine. How I would want them to be cared for is how I should be treating them"

"Family" is a meaningful word to Rutchell, the July CAREGiver of the Month at Home Instead® of Guelph, Ontario. Rutchell, of course, has family in her native Philippines. But she also speaks fondly of her other "family members" that include her Home Instead clients and staff, and describes how important they are.
"Although I am far away from my parents in the Philippines, when I look after clients I remember my mother, and I try to look after my clients with the same care. Being a CAREGiver is a very rewarding job. I feel I am really making a difference in people's lives. I can see this when the family members of clients thank me for my work, and when they treat me as if I am part of their family. I provide comfort for the clients and put the family at ease since they know their loved one is well looked after," Rutchell said.

Home Instead General Manager Larissa Sorek said: "Rutchell is incredible. She has helped me out of many binds as far as CAREGiver scheduling goes, and she is always willing to help whenever she can. She is amazing at what she does. Her compassion for her clients and their families shines."

Perhaps Simon's earliest caregiving experience was witnessing the elderly who were suffering In his home country, images that have followed him throughout life. "Growing up in Nigeria," Simon said, "I saw seniors live in misery as a result of their old age and health concerns. They were existing with little or no support and care. I was moved with compassion and was determined to work with care companies and organizations that pro ided health-care services for the seniors to help them live fulfilling lives and give their families a peace of mind. Also, the company's vision, values, goals, and the services and support they provided for their clients contributed to my decision later to work for Home Instead."

Simon remarked, "What I like about being a Home Instead Core Professional is that it gives me the opportunity to express compassion and empathy. The jab allows me to live my dream of providing adequate care, companionship, and emotional and physical support to the seniors. Another thing I like about my Jab as a Home Instead Care Pro is that the organization provides a variety of training that advances and improves my skills and knowledge about my profession."

Home Instead General Manager Larissa Sarek said: "We're impressed with Simon, Among his educational achievements. Simon has a bachelor's degree in psychology and is such a kind person. Simon is dedicated and has been beyond patient with us here at the Guelph franchise as we continue to grow, He has been understanding and no matter the circumstance, he is a pleasure to ta!k to. He is willing to drop everything to provide care. That is an avesome display of his dedication to help others."

Salome Spreads Her Love, Compassion
As a Family Caregiver and Care Professional

“Double duty.” That is not a term that Salome uses. But in reality, that’s what she does as a labor of love and from a compassionate heart.

Salome has been honoured by Home Instead® of Guelph, Ontario, as the award-winning franchise’s Care Professional of the Month for April. Salome and her family are going through a busy season in life with her 93-year-old mother. So, Salome embraces her responsibilities as both an unpaid family caregiver and a senior-care professional of the highest order.

Home Instead General Manager Larissa Sorek added more background for the empathetic Salome, who goes above and beyond the call of duty while demonstrating Home Instead’s guiding principles of  “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”  

“Salome has been with our Guelph office since January 2022. She was working with the Home Instead office in Brampton, Ontario, before making the move to our Home Instead office. She and her family had moved, and that is why she transferred,” Larissa said. “Even more indicative of her character and deep loyalty is that Salome was commuting for a long time to a client in Brampton because she didn’t want to leave him. Salome is just lovely, which something both Home Instead offices and her clients know. If it is possible to have an amazing day, Salome will do everything in her power to provide one.”

When told of her Care Professional of the Month award, Salome humbly and simply said, “I feel honoured. There is a lot for me to consider and do in a practical sense during these days and weeks, and perhaps later when I have had the proper time to ponder what this means and put it into perspective, I can voice my true feelings. I am thankful that Larissa so generously used her words to define what it takes to be a compassionate caregiver. I wish to thank Larissa and Home Instead for the honour and hope to be the best of the best. That is what I strive for.”

Larissa summed it up by saying, “Salome is an incredible person, and it is reflected in her amazing skills as a Care Professional!”

In addition to her strong companionship skills, Salome provides safety assurance, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and transportation and errands. Salome offers personal assistance with eating, grooming, dressing, bathing, incontinence care, cognitive impairment, hospice support and mobility. By expertly doing so, Salome and her fellow Care Pros not only assist their clients, but help their families eliminate worry, reduce stress and re-establish personal freedom.

Salome loves being a part of the Care Pro team for the Ontario franchise, a member of a highly successful network founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska. 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 Canada and 13 other countries.