‘Zonking,’ Price Guessing on Client’s Favorite TV Show Became Perfect Companionship Moments for Nickole
One morning, Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Nickole Hawks was washing her client’s dishes and straightening up his kitchen when she heard the client call out, “Nickole!” When Nickole went to see what he needed, the client asked her to sit down, talk with him and watch ‘Let’s Make A Deal’ on television with him.
The housecleaning, the client told Nickole, would be there later. So, every day after that, 10 a.m. was ‘Let’s Make A Deal’ time. “We anticipated which one of us would get ‘zonked.’ A ‘zonk’ is an unwanted booby prize, and it is the only prize on the game show that is worth nothing. I also listen to all of the amazing traveling stories he tells and the wonderful life he has had. Moments like those are the best and most awesome times of working as a Home Instead Care Professional!” Nickole said.
After four months with Home Instead® of Mount Airy, North Carolina, Nickole was honored as the award-winning franchise’s August Care Pro of the Month. Home Instead Staff Coordinator Sharon Bledsoe said: “Boy, does Nickole have a servant’s heart! She has been wonderful for her clients and Home Instead.”
Nickole said: “I really love my job! My company is wonderful. Everyone at Home Instead is always so kind and helpful, and just all-around wonderful. I just want to start with saying a big thank you to all of them!”
Nickole found Home Instead through an online job search. “Home Instead was looking for Care Professionals. I’ve always enjoyed helping and caring for others, so I applied for the job,” Nickole explained. “Before working for Home Instead, I was a stay-at-home mom for mine and my husband’s five children.”
Nickole added: “When our children all got old enough to go to school and daycare, I started working with my husband. I was helping him with his business in home remodeling, building walk-in tile showers, installing hardwood floors, painting and more. But in reality, I’m getting older, and I wanted to try something different and new. That’s when I found Home Instead.”
Being a mom is the ultimate job among family caregivers, and Nickole had other caregiving experience before joining Home Instead. “I had helped care for my grandmother and also for my neighbor with whom I was very close, and it always stuck with me,” Nickole said.
For Nickole and her fellow Care Pros, touching lives impacts their souls, whether they are providing physical help such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders or personal care or if they are offering emotional support in a companionship role. Focusing on Home Instead’s training, processes and procedures of successful caregiving helped Nickole achieve Care Pro of the Month status.
“The thing I like most about being a Home Instead Care Pro is spending each day with my clients and having them look at me and tell me, ‘Thank you for what you do.’ or telling me they love me. Those words just make my day because I know I helped them that day and let them know I’m there for them. I know I have earned that trust with them,” Nickole said.
“It’s hard to pick one story with my clients because they are all so wonderful. I have so many great stories and memories with each of them. My client who loves ‘Let’s Make A Deal’ is a memorable client because I had been assisting him for about three or four days when the companionship and bonding began to kick in.”
