Sherry’s Bond With Her Client Is Strong
The warm feeling of companionship is mutual between the Home Instead® Care Professional and her client. For her part, Care Pro of the Month Sherry Marshall said she feels a shot of energy from her client every day. “What I love most about my Care Pro job is going into work and seeing my diminutive, sweet lady and watching her smile and laugh,” Sherry said.
“My client tells me how happy she is to see me, and that she’s also happy because I’ll get her out of bed and get her motivated. She is happy I encourage her to do things such as shower, play games, go out to eat and go shopping, which she loves so much to do,” Sherry explained. “When I go to work every day, I also look forward to her telling me about the kind of night she had or ask what we are going to do that day after I get her up and ready.”
Sherry added: “I love that I can make a difference in someone’s life that gives that person something to look forward to every morning. I also love knowing I will always be there for her no matter what happens.”
Sherry is glad she has been with Home Instead of Mount Airy for the past year and three months. Van and Ann Lankford have owned the award-winning franchise since May 2011. Sherry recalled: “I had seen many commercials on TV and Facebook, and they talked about Home Instead needing great Care Pros to come and join the team. I also learned about Home Instead through my sister-in-law, who has worked several years for the company.”
With her late father’s encouragement, Sherry entered the caregiving field. “My professional background guided me to this type of in-home work with Home Instead. I had worked in a nursing facility a couple of years ago. I noticed right away you become the residents’ family, and they depend on you and look forward to seeing you every day,” Sherry said.
While serving as a family caregiver, Sherry remembers asking her father an important question as he was shuttling in and out of hospitals and nursing facilities. Sherry recalled: “I said, ‘Daddy, do you ever think I could be a good nurse who would take of people and help them?’ My dad looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Sherry, you have a heart of gold that goes deep, and I believe you can do anything.’ ”
As a result, Sherry enrolled at Surry Community College in Dobson, North Carolina, and later earned her CNA license. “I got to spend time with my dad in a nursing facility until he passed in 2014,” Sherry said.
Staff Coordinator Sharon Bledsoe and other Home Instead staff members recognized Sherry’s heart of gold of which her father had spoken. Sharon announced Sherry had been honored as the franchise’s Care Pro of the Month for December. Among the considerations for reaching Care Pro of the Month status, an employee has shown he or she has gone above and beyond the call of duty. Empathy and compassion are taken into account for the award, as well as skill and wisdom for dealing with challenging situations. Sherry embodies Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”
In addition to her strong companionship skills, Sherry provides safety assurance, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and transportation and errands. Sherry offers personal assistance with eating, grooming, dressing, bathing, incontinence care, cognitive impairment, hospice support and mobility. By expertly doing so, Sherry not only assists her clients, but helps their families eliminate worry, reduce stress and re-establish personal freedom.
Sherry loves being a part of the Care Pro team for the Mount Airy franchise, a member of a network comprised of Home Instead, Inc. and its parent company, Honor. With the world’s largest home-care network and the most advanced care platform, Honor and Home Instead are revolutionizing care for older adults, their families and Care Pros. Combined, the network has more than 100,000 Care Pros across 13 countries, meeting the growing needs of millions of older adults and their families worldwide.
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (336) 789-4472 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
