Kim Pontejos had served as a medical case manager in Arizona years ago, but it was personal when she experienced the challenges of dementia for the first time with a family member. Carole, her oldest sister, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at age 65. Carole lived in California, but as the days passed, it was no longer safe for her to live on her own.
“My sister Becky stepped up to bring Carole to her home in Texas,” Kim recalled. “When Becky needed a break, Carole came to my home in Colorado. Carole no longer knew our names and didn’t know my kids. She would want to leave the house, but we would redirect her – coffee was a great distractor – and she adored sitting on the sofa with our two dogs.”
Kim added: “It was a humbling experience to see the changes taking place in Carole, and it was equally an honor to have had that time with her.”
Kim never forgot her family caregiving experience. Perhaps it was in the back of her mind when Kim made a major shift in her working career. Her previous experience had included her role as the medical case manager, working for the American Cancer Society’s Quit Line in Austin, Texas, and working for TIAA as an accountant for 13 years in Denver. From the financial world, Kim landed at Home Instead® of Louisville, Colorado, as a senior-care professional.
“It all started when I was at a neighbor’s dinner party. I had recently given my employer notice and was at a crossroads, contemplating what to do next,” Kim explained. “While at the dinner party, I struck up a conversation with Melinda Pfanstiel, who mentioned she works for Home Instead as director of home care operations. Before moving into their office, Melinda had been a Care Professional for several years, and that piqued my interest. I wanted to learn more about that line of work, so I applied at Home Instead and was hired in May 2024.
Kim was an immediate hit with her clients. Seven months after joining the franchise, Kim was honored as Home Instead’s Care Pro of the Month for December.
Human Resources Director Brenda Munro, who announced the award, said: “Kim told me her kids were grown, but she was not ready to retire. I’m so glad she decided to give caregiving a try. She is a natural. Kim works with some of our dementia clients and handles their behaviors like a pro. One of our clients mailed a handwritten note to us, saying: ‘Kim’s wonderful, caring and drives me anywhere I need to go. She is so very special.’ ”
To achieve Care Pro of the Month status, an employee has shown she has gone above and beyond the call of duty, Brenda pointed out. Empathy and compassion are taken into account for the award, as well as skill and wisdom for dealing with challenging situations. Kim embodies Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”
Kim noted that the best part of being a Care Pro is interacting with her clients. “Each person has a different story, and the needs of each person vary widely. Overall, I feel as if we are all in this together, trying to do our best,” she said. “I had mentioned to a client that my son and his fiancée are planning their wedding. The client would ask about the wedding planning, what the wedding dress looked like and if I had bought my dress yet (No, I haven’t!). It is so sweet of the client to ask about the details of the wedding and to be happy for my son’s marriage.”
Kim loves being a part of the Care Pro team for the Front Range 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 and their families. Owner Michael Lammers’ award-winning Home Instead franchise serves Boulder, Broomfield and northwest Adams Counties.
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (720) 890-0184 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
