Even With Challenges, Penny Finds Good Fit With Client
Sometimes, timing is everything. That has been the theme of Penny Acevedo’s story since she joined Home Instead® of Mount Airy a month ago. Penny stepped into a situation in which she immediately shined despite facing difficult tests. As a result, Penny was honored as the franchise’s Care Professional of the Month for January.
Home Instead Staff Coordinator Sharon Bledsoe explained: “Penny wanted to come aboard at Home Instead, and she was willing to wait for the client who would fit her personality and also her schedule. That happened. Penny met challenges she’s had to overcame to help this family. Those challenges are the reason Penny has been chosen as Care Pro of the Month. She has a great heart and the desire to work.”
Among the considerations for achieving Care Pro of the Month status, an employee has shown she has gone above and beyond the call of duty, Sharon pointed out. Empathy and compassion are taken into account for the award, as well as skill and wisdom for dealing with challenging situations. Penny embodies Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”
Penny heard about Home Instead from a friend. As the old saying goes, Penny “has been around the block” when it comes to professional caregiving. “For years,” Penny said, “I have had my own caregiving experiences with clients in various surroundings and situations. One thing I have learned for sure is that it takes understanding, patience and kindness to follow this calling. Having those experiences from work, and personal experiences, give me a better point of view.”
Penny added: “I have family-caregiving experiences from taking care of grandparents, special-needs adults and a special-needs child.”
Answering the “why” question about her career path, Penny simply said: “I enjoy helping someone who needs and appreciates everything I do.” For Penny and her fellow Care Pros, touching lives impacts their souls, whether they are providing physical help such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders or personal care or if they are offering emotional support in a companionship role.
In addition to her strong companionship skills, Penny provides safety assurance, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and transportation and errands. Penny offers personal assistance with eating, grooming, dressing, bathing, incontinence care, cognitive impairment, hospice support and mobility. By expertly doing so, Penny and her fellow Care Pros not only assist their clients, but help their families eliminate worry, reduce stress and re-establish personal freedom.
Penny’s familiarity with her client and the client’s family has been a big plus. Penny said: “Part of my fulfillment with my Home Instead job is that I grew up just a few miles apart from the client in the same community. I enjoy hearing from my client how things have changed from when the client was young to now, and knowing the area that the client talks about. This is a part of my community history. It is living history and a whole lot different and more enjoyable than reading about it from a book.”
Penny loves being a part of the Care Pro team for the North Carolina 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. Combined, the network has more than 100,000 Care Pros across 13 countries, meeting the growing needs of millions of older adults and their families worldwide.
