The dark times that preceded April Poling’s arrival at Home Instead® of Martinsburg were followed by an inexplicable brightness of fulfillment and joy that was generated by April’s God-given ability to lift her clients’ spirits. While April’s compassion and companionship elevated her clients’ moods, she found the experience to be reciprocating in ways she could not have anticipated.
“I started with Home Instead on Oct. 17, 2022, almost two months after my husband was diagnosed with a pituitary gland brain tumor. It had been a rough couple of months for us. After long consideration, I left my stay-at-home mom job of 25 years and jumped with both feet into the Care Professional position,” April explained.
“I’ve always said my calling in life was serving as a caregiver for humans, big and small. I’m a mom of three, and I’ve always had children some of whom I didn’t birth but who I’ve cared for and nurtured. They still call me ‘Momma.’ I had worked part time as a bus aide for several years as well as having taken care of a few friends’ little ones here and there.”
In September 2021, April’s father fell 20 feet from a ladder, suffered a stroke and became paralyzed. He went for rehabilitation to a nursing home close to April’s home. While her father was there, he’d ask April to get a job at the nursing home so she could take care of him. Unfortunately, April couldn’t get a job there solely to take care of her father as he wanted.
“When I decided to go back to work to help our family when my husband’s health issues started, I knew I wasn’t going to provide care in a facility environment. I was going to work in a home setting where I could do one-on-one care,” April said. “I signed up with Indeed.com and replied to a few positions I thought I could handle with my skills. Home Instead was one of those.”
Five months after Home Instead hired April, General Manager Allyson Starling announced April had been honored as Care Pro of the Month at the award-winning Home Instead franchise that serves West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.
April said: “I enjoy my Home Instead job, I enjoy helping others and I enjoy seeing my clients happy to see me. It’s heartwarming. I have three regular clients, and they all have a very special place in my heart. They tell me often how much they enjoy me and everything I do for them.”
On March 27, April’s oldest client celebrated her 103rd birthday. As April walked through the door for her shift, she was singing happy birthday and was holding a cupcake and flowers for her client. “Her smile was priceless, and I made her day. This job is very rewarding when you get to see the clients smile from ear to ear or make them laugh,” said April, who is the client’s only Care Pro.
“I’m very blessed to have taken this job,” said April, who recently volunteered for an American Cancer Society event. “It has helped me more ways than anyone will ever understand. I enjoy my job and the relationships I have built after having taken this job. I wouldn’t trade it for anything!”
All Home Instead Caregivers are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please apply online at www.homeinstead.com/location/733/home-care-jobs. For further information about Home Instead services, visit our website at www.homeinstead.com/location/733.
