To Manuela, Providing Care Always Has Been Personal
With one horrifying event, Manuela Pina’s journey in life was established. Her brother had been badly injured in a near-fatal vehicle accident.
“In my early adolescent years,” Manuela explained, “I was tasked with dressing, ambulating and feeding, as well as providing physical therapy and the personal care, for my brother.”
Manuela added: “At that point in life, it became clear that my calling included assisting and caring for necessitated persons.”
As an adult when Manuela’s mother fell ill to cancer at the age of 71, Manuela stepped into her first personal hospice role. “Numerous times throughout my career,” Manuela pointed out, “employers deemed me the best suit for hospice nursing, which is what prepared me for my mother’s care.”
In March 2022, Manuela became a Care Professional for Home Instead® of Midland-Odessa, an award-winning franchise owned by Lorena and William Shensky. In July, Manuela was honored as the office’s Care Pro of the Month in an announcement made by Assistant Administrator and Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Imelda Hawkins.
Explaining her exit from her previous private-duty job and her subsequent path to Home Instead, Manuela said: “Shortly after my last client was moved into a memory-care community, I fired up my resume. Mrs. Hawkins requested a formal interview early spring. My 26-year background as a CNA and the wonderful reference from a happy and grateful client made me a perfect fit with Home Instead. My career began with Nurses Unlimited, and I moved on to Accolade and then into independent contracting. For the last decade, my forte has been private home-health hospice.”
Imelda (Mrs. Hawkins) was thrilled to hire Manuela. “With just four months under her belt with Home Instead, Manuela has proved to us that it doesn’t take long for a Care Pro to make a huge impression on both the client and staff. Manuela’s private-caregiving experience put her right in the path of one of our specialized clients. Her reliability and commitment to her client paved the way to her July Care Pro of the Month award!” Imelda said.
Manuela believes she has taken another fulfilling step in her career of providing compassionate care. “Working for Home Instead has allowed me to truly work independently with a trusting employer. The supportive office staff has always promptly and professionally responded to all my inquiries. All of which is part of a sustainable and healthy work environment,” Manuela said.
Explaining her feeling of butterflies amid her anticipation of her initial shift, Manuela said, “As my first day of work approached, I was coached about the special-care client, I began to feel nervous just before being formally introduced. All the nerves washed away as the love and care for my new client became very apparent by the immaculate state of the home. I was honored to be in the service of a wonderful family and knew I would fit in just fine.”
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (432) 689-4663 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
