Getting out of the house for a breath of fresh air is something most people take for granted, at least for folks who are healthy. But for two seniors, it meant the world that CAREGiver of the Month Lucretia Anderson eagerly jumped at the opportunity to get one of them outside and into the warm, filtered South Texas sunshine for a different perspective on life. Perhaps it was a small, seemingly insignificant act, but it was an impactful day for Lucretia's client and his wife.
Lucretia's client had undergone surgery and later suffered a fall that had immobilized him. Because of his poor physical condition and his wife's declining health that did not allow her to fully assist him, the client hadn't been able to go outside their home for a long while. One day, the client's wife softly said, "I wonder if my husband could just go outside for a little while?"
"When I heard that," Lucretia recalled, "I secured him in his wheelchair and took him up and down the street. He was so happy, and I emphasize that with a sentence punctuated with an exclamation mark. When we came back inside his home, his whole demeanor had changed."
Speaking with a bit of emotion, Lucretia added: "I was happy that he was happy. Just the little things you do for someone can mean so much."
Lucretia has assisted seniors for the award-winning Home Instead® franchise that serves south-central Houston for almost a year. Representing franchise owner Greg Gomez-Mira and Client Care Coordinator and Office Manager Destiny Wesley, Scheduling Coordinator Rebecca Garcia announced recently that Lucretia has been honored as a CAREGiver of the Month.
Explaining how she found her way to Home Instead, Lucretia said: "I came across Home Instead by way of its website, even though I previously had seen commercials for Home Instead on TV. At the time, I found myself in between jobs. I was looking for something where I could still be a help to people without going back to medical-clinic work, but I wanted a job with more flexibility. Of course, I had previous experience in a clinical setting, but I also desired more personal experience, which is what Home Instead is all about."
When she was younger, Lucretia had the opportunity to be around her grandparents and see what challenges they experienced day to day. Lucretia recalled: "My grandparents tried to take care of themselves as best they could."
She added: "I want to help care for people and do my part in helping them age with dignity. I believe working for Home Instead gives me that opportunity."
For Lucretia, touching lives impacts her soul, whether she's providing physical help such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders or personal care or if she is offering emotional support in a companionship role.
Lucretia loves being a part of the CAREGiver team for the Houston franchise, a member of a highly successful network founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Paul and Lori Hogan. The Home Instead network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,200 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 70 million hours of care annually throughout the U.S. and 13 other countries.
Lucretia is among more than 90,000 CAREGivers, and she has helped add to those numbers because of her strong belief in Home Instead's purpose. It isn't hard to see Lucretia lives the Home Instead® principles of "Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart."
"I love the satisfaction I receive in knowing I assisted in someone's care and helped put their family's mind at ease in knowing their loved one is being cared for when they can't be there with them," Lucretia said.
Home Instead CAREGivers, who are screened, trained, bonded and insured, provide a variety of services to help keep seniors independent. For inquiries about employment with Home Instead, please call (713) 955-1909, email Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Margi Kenny at margi.kenny@homeinstead.com or fill in the email prompts at https://www.homeinstead.com/541/home-care-jobs, where there is an online application. For further information about the company, including Home Instead's services, please go to its website at https://www.homeinstead.com/541/home-instead-senior-care. Our Home Instead franchise serves Houston, Arcola, Bellaire, First Colony, Fresno, Greatwood, Iowa Colony, Lake Olympia, Meyer Park, Meyerland, Missouri City, Pearland, Quail Valley, Riverstone, Rosharon, Shadow Creek Ranch, Sienna Plantation, Stafford, Sugar Land, Sunnyside, Sweetwater, Thompsons and Westbury.
