Client: ‘The World Needs More People Like Cera’
The former U.S. Marine, who served in the Vietnam War, lavished high praise for CAREGiver of the Month Cerefina “Cera” Ornelas, whom he considers to be like a family member. Her client said, “The world would be a better place if there were more people like Cera. She’s honest and dependable, and she is a family gal who absolutely loves her family.”
The client’s unsolicited compliment was communicated to the award-winning Home Instead® of Midland-Odessa franchise office. Assistant Administrator and Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Imelda Hawkins said: “Cera started with Home Instead in late January 2021 and has been nothing short of amazing. We are truly blessed to have such a great CAREGiver on our team. We always know she will show up and show out for her client. Cerefina is one of a kind.”
The word “family” resonates with the client, Imelda and franchise co-owners Lorena and William Shensky when there’s a discussion involving Cera. Long before arriving at Home Instead, Cera was a family caregiver extraordinaire.
“I had the privilege of babysitting my two grandchildren from the time they were just months old until they started school. They are my life, along with my three sons. I also was the family caregiver for my mother-in-law and father-in-law for five years. I enjoyed cooking for them, especially their favorite dishes. I also loved hearing their stories from their past. It’s a great feeling to care for the elderly,” Cera said.
Cera has added to her growing family since joining Home Instead. “If you are cut out for working in senior care, I must warn you, you will get attached, and your clients will become your family.” Cera pointed out. She put conditions on being “cut out” for a CAREGiver job, saying, “It takes a lot of heart, patience and love to be a CAREGiver, and I can honestly say this profession is not for everyone. You have to be qualified emotionally and physically, and you have to be dependable and committed.”
Cera further explained: “I have a passion for helping others. I treat people how I would like to be treated. At the risk of being repetitive, I want everyone to know I love my job as a CAREGiver. It’s very rewarding to hear my client say I have changed his life for the better and how I make his life much easier. I’m very reliable. I know my client depends on me.”
In addition to family caregiving, Cera brought a multitude of job experiences with her when she applied at Home Instead. She had worked in the cotton fields as a teenager and cooked in restaurants. Cera also did maintenance work at a commercial cattle feedlot and worked as a convenience store cashier. Additionally, she served as a school district custodian at a rural western Kansas town. Then she learned about Home Instead.
“I heard about Home Instead through Imelda. Her husband and I were high school classmates. I was job hunting and came across a Home Instead advertisement Imelda had posted on Facebook. So, I sent her a message asking if they were hiring. She immediately told me, ‘Yes! Go online and apply.’ Knowing that was the profession for which I was searching, I immediately applied and God answered my prayers, I was hired immediately,” Cera said.
Little did Cera know when she applied to be a Home Instead CAREGiver that her life’s experiences would greatly expand. “My client is full of stories. He’s a talker, and I’m a great listener. I must say I love hearing stories about his past vacations. I also enjoy hearing about his stories from his military service in the Vietnam War. With all clients, I have gained a lot of knowledge because they have lived through just about everything. Being a CAREGiver also gives me a glimpse of my future,” Cera said.
Cera is among more than 100,000 CAREGivers worldwide, and she has helped add to those numbers because of her strong belief in Home Instead’s purpose. It isn’t hard to see Cera lives the Home Instead principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”
All Home Instead CAREGivers 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.
