Rhonda Took Daughter’s Advice, Finds Fulfillment with Home Instead
When Rhonda Barnard was seeking a “post-retirement job,” her daughter Nicole had valuable advice. “Mom,” Nicole said, “you ought to try Home Instead® of Lubbock.” Rhonda’s daughter is a registered nurse with a home medical services company, and she said she always has recommended Home Instead to her patients when the situation is appropriate.
Of course, Rhonda’s daughter was right. Ten months ago, Rhonda landed a CAREGiver position with the award-winning Home Instead franchise owned by Tracy and Terry Baugh. “I had worked at my previous job with an oil company for 32 years and was ready to retire from the hectic office setting. I didn’t want to just sit at home, so I began looking around for part-time work,” said Rhonda, who had family caregiving experience before joining Home Instead. “I took care of my mother for a while before she eventually went to an assisted living facility. I bathed her, helped her with personal care, gave her medication and served as a companion.”
Rhonda and Home Instead were a perfect match. Referring to Rhonda’s desire to find another job after her retirement from the oil company, Tracy Baugh said: “We find that many people have opted to ‘unretire,’ or return to work, perhaps in part-time roles, after their initial retirements. According to 2019 research conducted by the Home Instead corporate office, 53 percent of those soon to be retiring believed they were likely to return to work after retirement,” Tracy explained.
“Home Instead’s ‘UnRetire Yourself’ program encourages those people to combine their passions and experience to identify fulfilling post-retirement employment, including professional caregiving. We are so happy Rhonda chose this route. Seniors and their families have benefited from Rhonda’s compassion and skill, and she feels good about what she’s doing.”
Said Rhonda: “I love being a CAREGiver. I didn’t know how rewarding it would be until I started working at Home Instead. I have created lasting relationships with the people for whom I have cared. It means so much to seniors to be able to stay home, and receive care and the companionship we provide for them.
“Probably one of my favorite stories centers on my very first client, who has dementia and still receives my care. We connected right away. At first, she stayed in her bedroom all day and watched TV. We now talk a lot, walk when the weather permits and play games to stimulate her thinking. She is a delight with such a sense of humor.”
Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Juanita Camacho said: “We are thrilled Rhonda joined our team of professionals in February 2021. She is an amazing person and CAREGiver. Rhonda came to Home Instead to give back to the community and help our aging adults. Her customer-service skills have served her well. Rhonda does a great job of engaging our clients, which allows them to share their lives with her. She is always willing to do what she can to make a difference in their lives and brings much joy to them. Rhonda communicates well with our clients, clients’ families, her co-workers and our office.”
All Home Instead CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (806) 281-4663 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
