A year ago in December, Nataliia was in the depths of despair. The 35-year-old Ukrainian native had arrived in the United States in the summer of 2023 and desperately needed a job. Enter Home Instead® of Itasca, Illinois, where Nataliia unexpectedly found a warm Christmas spirit.
Nataliia set the scene by explaining: “I had filled out a form on the Indeed.com jobs website, but none of the job offers suited me. I had already lost hope. But as you know, Christmas time is a magical time. This is the time when dreams come true.”
They certainly did for Nataliia.
Home Instead Human Resources Manager Alina Merrill called Nataliia and invited her to an interview. Nataliia admitted: “I went to the interview without much hope. I was pleasantly surprised by the general office atmosphere. Everyone was so polite and pleasant, so patient with my fractured English. And surprisingly, I was hired. Words cannot describe how happy I was.”
Nataliia had become a Home Instead Care Professional at owner Kelly Hutchison’s award-winning franchise. The humble, self-deprecating former science teacher cleared every caregiving hurdle while receiving a crash course in the English language and American culture. Then Nataliia was honored as Home Instead’s Care Pro of the Month for December 2024.
Home Instead office members Jackie Washburn (training coordinator) and Mandy Kraus (staffing manager) pointed out that Nataliia was truly deserving of her franchise award. Jackie recalled a phone conversation with Nataliia: “She deflected our words of praise. She said: ‘It's easy to be a good Care Pro when you are matched with the perfect client!’ Nataliia has assisted many clients, and they always report positive feedback. Nataliia genuinely cares about our seniors.”
Mandy said: “Nataliia has a beautiful, kind soul and the sweetest personality. She opens her heart and has such a strong passion for caregiving. She is extremely empathetic and is always determined to provide the best care. When one client went into the hospital, Nataliia frequently spent time with her to ensure that her client was calm and comfortable. Nataliia is simply adored, and she quickly makes a long-lasting impression on our seniors.”
Nataliia said: “The most important thing for me was a flexible schedule, because I am taking college classes and have small children. It was difficult at first because I didn’t know English well, and I previously didn’t have special skills that pertained to professional senior care. My primary experience came when my children and I helped an elderly neighbor in Ukraine.”
Nataliia added: “I had a strong empathy for her, so I brought her food, bought medicine and groceries, cleaned her house and visited. She also visited me often. Stefania adored my children, and they adored her. The children often ran to her, brought her goodies and told her about kindergarten. I tried to help her as much as possible with the physical needs, but it was more important for Stefania to have companionship. She wanted to hear my children’s laughter and desired to talk about her childhood and her relatives. It was then when I began to understand how important companionship is for older people. Many are lonely.”
Tying in her friendship with her neighbor and her client companionship as a Home Instead Care Pro, Nataliia said: “In Ukraine, I listened with pleasure to Stefania, and I listen now to my clients. I tell all my friends, classmates and teachers how wonderful my Home Instead work is.”
Serving as a Care Pro has been an educational experience for Nataliia, who has listened to a number of compelling stories and received many useful tips. She has received the opportunity to meet many interesting people and experience many new adventures. On her first scheduled day with a client, a snowstorm left the roads icy and dangerous. School was called off, her children had to remain at home and Nataliia was forced to stay with them.
“I had to excuse myself from work. I was so afraid I’d be fired. But Jackie calmed me and offered incredible kindness and understanding,” Nataliia recalled. “Then there was another instance of Home Instead kindness. I had to go to a client unexpectedly, but in my haste, I went to two wrong addresses because I was frazzled. But my dear Mandy soothed me instead of quarreling or laughing at my foolishness.”
Nataliia, of course, has been an exemplary Care Pro. She has accumulated a collection of unique client stories. “I have funny memories with Ms. T., who sent me to a Japanese grocery store with a shopping list written in Japanese every time. The store personnel became familiar with me, and I can now perfectly distinguish between the different types of sushi,” Nataliia said.
In a different situation, Nataliia was assigned to a dementia client who lives in a care community. According to a report, the client had at times behaved aggressively. Nataliia was leery because she was unsure if she could cope. But Nataliia said, “It turned out to be the best day of my life. We walked, did exercises and played bingo, and I met her friends. We talked a lot. She was also a teacher just as I was. We had a lot in common. It was wonderful.”
Yet another client told Nataliia how she met the love of her life in a care community. “Now I know that age doesn't matter when you love.” Nataliia said. Among her best client memories, Nataliia pointed to Mrs. B.
“She seemed like a great-grandmother, but I never felt our age difference was an issue. She was my best friend here. She was so patient with my English. I once said ‘plate’ when I meant ‘plant,’ and ‘fridge’ instead of ‘bridge.’ She asked me to bring something from the bathroom. I didn’t totally understand and must have looked puzzled, but I retrieved Q-tip cotton swabs. She smiled and said, ‘You had no idea what I asked, did you? But you guessed right. Well done.’ She taught me how to cook, provided advice and joked a lot. She advised what to give my children, how to write an essay and what movies to watch,” Nataliia said.
“The bottom line,” Nataliia said, “is that I believe all of my clients are also my friends, and they all have different personalities, but their friendships are uniquely wonderful and meaningful.”
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 at homeinstead.com/location/205.