When Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month MaryLee Vice was nearing her 12th birthday, her mother asked MaryLee what she wanted for a gift. MaryLee said, “Foster kids.” It was one of the earliest signs in MaryLee’s life that she simply wanted to help others. As a result, MaryLee’s parents moved forward with the idea.
“My parents got their foster-care license and took classes, and we had a lot of extra kids in our home during the following years. I think it was in my DNA to want a large family, and to want to share our love and blessings beyond our immediate fold. Our parents volunteered in the Boulder and Lafayette communities, and their generosity benefited others beyond our house,” recalled MaryLee, who, as an adult, gained senior-care experience in nursing homes, assisted living and home-health care as a licensed CNA, and with agency placement of patients and clients.
MaryLee also has served as a family caregiver. She has assisted her parents, a daughter and her grandchildren. Then there is her “extended family” of people who are simply in need. MaryLee “answered the bell” when assistance was needed.
“Caring for our parents all the way through the hospice process taught all of us a lot,” she said. “I also presently take care of my adult disabled daughter. I have five children and numerous ‘adopted children of my heart.’ I have a total of seven grandchildren, with another grandson on the way. During my spare time away from the job, grandkids fill my time, and I love to see my kids teaching their children to consider the needs of others.”
As for the “extended family,” MaryLee explained: “We have had many folks, who needed a hand through the years, stay at our home also. Among them are friends between jobs, people with mental-health challenges, recovering alcoholics and addicts, and people re-entering life after prison. I have felt a calling to help people facing housing challenges get re-established. My hope is a chain effect of willingness to pay it forward.”
In September 2022, MaryLee began working for the Home Instead franchise of Boulder, Broomfield and northwest Adams Counties based in Louisville, Colorado. The idea of working for Home Instead was planted many years ago when MaryLee met Care Pro Elaine Lohman. Elaine had worked with a client MaryLee had known.
“Elaine seemed delighted with her job, content with this company and loved her client. I kept this impression in my mind. When my schedule offered an opening, I simultaneously saw that Home Instead was needing help, so I applied and was hired,” said MaryLee, who was honored as the franchise’s Care Pro of the Month for June.
Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Brenda Munro said: “MaryLee came to us with a ton of experience and a CNA license, and she is just an all-around fabulous Care Professional and employee. MaryLee is compassionate and reliable, and she is great with clients. Our client care coordinator, Kelli, brags about how communicative MaryLee is. She always calls with comments, concerns or feedback about our clients and keeps Kelli in the loop.”
MaryLee said: “My experience with Home Instead has been a happy one. Since the office staff works in unison, there is an easy positive communication, and the schedule flows so well. It allows us Care Pros to focus on our caregiving duties and work on person-centered care of the clients.”
One of MaryLee’s special Home Instead experiences was a discussion with a care manager about a dementia client whose mental state at the end of life caused her distress. “After speaking about what could benefit her, numerous tweaks were made to help her quality of life,” MaryLee explained. “Afterwards, it was wonderful to see the client’s face looking peaceful and relaxed. There came to be a nonverbal expression in her eyes that showed she understood I was there to help her. Our team effort changed the client’s end-of-life situation to one of peace.”
MaryLee’s belief system and compassionate heart are anchored to one source of strength. “My philosophy is to pray in the morning and ask that God send blessings through me so I can bless others for Him,” MaryLee said.
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.
