Sandra Shines Brightly in Return to Caregiving
Sandra Kaniki always has been a people pleaser.
For 30 years, she served as a hair stylist; then for 12 years, she was a cosmetology instructor. In May 1994, Sandra earned her Home Health Care license and worked as an in-home caregiver for 10 years. As a family caregiver, Sandra took care of her sisters, nieces, nephews, mother and father. “In one way or another, I helped many people during my lifetime. That is why I am tuned into people’s needs, and I really love making life easier for them, Sandra said.
“Earlier this year, I was ready to transition away from my cosmetology career because I knew I wanted to be a caregiver again,” Sandra explained.
Enter Home Instead® of Lubbock, an award-winning franchise owned by Tracy and Terry Baugh. “I had passed by the Home Instead office for years and years, and I thought, ‘One day, I am going to work there.’ I retired from cosmetology in May 2021, took some time off and applied at Home Instead, and I have been with the company since June 14, 2021,” Sandra said.
“I went through the Home Instead orientation and CAREGiver training classes. I listen very carefully to all the training I need to do my job well. I considered how much I wanted to get into the field and start working with clients to provide my best care I can.”
Fewer than three months after Sandra had joined Home Instead, Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Juanita Camacho announced Sandra had been honored as a CAREGiver of the Month. “Even though Sandra is a new team member, she has quickly won over the hearts of our clients and their families. Sandra is a CAREGiver at heart. She has an aura of confidence about her. She comes into a client’s home and immediately puts the client at ease,” Juanita said.
Sandra discussed her highly successful start at Home Instead:
- “During the short time I have been with Home Instead, I have made some really good connections with the clients. I just enjoy so much of the time we spend together.”
- “I can truly say the best thing for me with the four clients – all of whom I work with almost every week – is that we have a relationship that is very caring and respectful.”
- “I love going home at the end of a shift with the feeling I have done as much as I could for the client during every shift.”
Sandra has assisted one client since her first week with Home Instead. “She is the sweetest lady. She pretty much tells me the same stories about her family every week. I realized I listen to her stories as if it were the first time I was hearing them because of the love she has for her family. When she starts a story and I know I have heard it before, I just sit back and listen and smile on the inside with love,” Sandra said.
Juanita is not surprised how Sandra nurtures the dementia client. “Our clients feel the love and kindness Sandra offers, and they are comfortable with her in their homes. Sandra has great intuition. She knows it’s the little things that make a difference in the lives of our clients, and she takes the time to get to know our clients so she can meet all of their needs. In a nutshell, Sandra is an amazing person and wonderful CAREGiver,” Juanita said.
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.
