Vickey has reached the pinnacle of her work career. She was honored as Care Professional of the Year at franchise owner Kelly Hutchison’s Home Instead® office in Itasca, Illinois. Vickey’s immediate family has been rejoicing with her, including her mother Ardelia. Vickey wishes her late father could enjoy the award with her, too.
“My father Necessarl passed away in February 2017, about six months before I moved back to the Chicago area,” said Vickey, who joined Home Instead in July 2021. “If there is a consolation, it is that I am sure he is looking down on me now with pride. He, my mother and my immediate family always have been my strongest supporters and encouragers. There were some challenging times, but they always stuck by me. I am the only daughter, and I have four brothers.”
Vickey added: “I come from a loving family who has celebrated this moment. They include my daughter Jessica, her son Marc and Jessica’s fiancé Travis. My son is Kendrick, and his wife is Laynnea.”
Referring to her compassionate and empathetic personality that is winsome to all with whom Vickey comes into contact, the Mississippi native said: “While praising my immediate family, I think my nature also goes back to the kind of people who my grandparents were. They scraped and struggled sometimes to get by, but they always showed us their love, wanted us to help others and set a good example with their work ethic. As I grow older, I appreciate them more and more and the sacrifices they had to make.”
Vickey added, “When Home Instead made the announcement, it felt amazing. This is my calling.
We all have different talents and gifts given to us by God so that we can prosper and get by in life while living and working in fulfillment. Caregiving is my gift, my niche in life, and not just seniors. It’s people in general. The nature of this job is one of both joy and sadness. Even with the best and brightest of society, their health can falter and then it is humbling for them when they need help. You are sad for them, but you are happy to have the opportunity to help them.”
Another sad part of professional senior care is losing clients to death. Vickey has faced that sadness this year in a very personal way. “It has been a hard 2023. It feels as if it has been funeral after funeral for me. I lost my fiancé to a heart attack Aug. 31. Then his mother, a special person, died in November. I tried as best I could to manage the sadness because I am a live-in Care Pro for a 76-year-old man and his disabled son who depend heavily on me five days a week. I was away from my clients on the day of the funeral service only,” Vickey explained.
“I have a strong faith in God. I have come to depend on God for my strength. Sometimes it takes a prayer to get through the day. Earlier in my life, I worked for a church for 10 years. I believe God wants us to trust in Him and give over our troubles to Him. A nurse recently asked me about my stress level. I said I didn’t know, ‘maybe a 5.’ I don’t look at my job as being stressful. I just do what I have to do to help the clients and make it a good, clean and welcoming home atmosphere because I live here, too, for five days a week. I want to be comfortable and have my clients feel that way, too.”
Vickey began assisting her clients as a live-in Care Pro on July 5, 2022. “Before I arrived, they had 12 Care Pros who tried to help them. A week after I began assisting them, they told me I was the best Care Pro they had. I have a heart for them. The way I view it, they could be my dad and brother, and I just want the best for them. I also want to stay with them to give them consistency of care. Clients in general don’t do well with change when different Care Pros are coming and going,” Vickey said.
“They want me to stay with them all the time, even on weekends. I get off work at 10 a.m. Friday and am home by 11, and they are already calling me and telling me they miss me and want me to come back. I feel bad whenever I leave them. The son was in an accident when he was 8 and has been affected ever since. He does have a good sense of humor. The father is doing really well now. He doesn’t complain, but he would have reasons to do so. Four months ago, he ended up with shingles, and one thing led to another in terms of medical challenges. He was in rehabilitation for a month. I was there with him every day during lunch and dinner.”
In general, referring to all of her Home Instead clients, Vickey said: “I love all of my clients. I have had good clients. They let me love on them the way I allow them to love on me. There is a trust in me and a generosity in attitude toward me. Life should always be relational and not solitary.”
When Human Resources Manager Alina Merrill announced Vickey had been honored as Care Pro of the Year, Alina said Vickey displays Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.” Vickey loves being a part of her Care Pro team at the Itasca franchise. The Itasca office serves the Chicagoland cities of Elk Grove Village, Addison, Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Elk Grove, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Medinah, Mt. Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Schaumburg, Streamwood and Wood Dale.
Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (847) 690-9825 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
