Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Mary Grahmann always says a prayer before leaving her car after arriving at a client’s home. Mary wants to make sure she is focused and at her very best when she steps in the client’s door. Mary said, “I ask God to help me bring joy, comfort and whatever else is needed for that client at that particular time.”
When Mary arrived one day to help her 92-year-old client, Mary had a feeling something wasn’t right because she could not enter the house even though she had a key, and her client wasn’t answering her doorbell. It was quite a contrast from just about any other day with the client. “When I began working with her last September, she was vibrant and would be fully dressed and looking beautiful by 7:30 each morning when I arrived,” Mary said. “She was ready to go as many places as we could. The priority was buying treats for her cats and dogs, shopping and going to breakfast or lunch. We spent lots of time laughing together, and I spent time listening to her when things weren’t going so well too.”
Recalling that memorable day, Mary added: “Part of our Home Instead franchise’s mission is ‘Honor God in all you do,’ and that phrase came out of my mouth. I called an office staff member, who gave me permission to use any means necessary to get inside.”
Referring to Home Instead Recruiting and Retention Coordinator Maegan Coldewey, Mary said: “Maegan was on her way. I managed to get in the house and take the knob off her bedroom door. Long story short, the client ended up being life-flighted to San Antonio. I was glad I could be with her until her son was reached. She recovered for a short time. I was honored to be with her as her health declined. She mostly wanted me to hold her hand, so I didn’t let go for up to four hours some days.”
Mary hasn’t thought of letting go of a job she accepted Sept. 13, 2022, a beautiful fall day when she joined Victoria’s award-winning Home Instead franchise owned by Pietro Jordao and Dillon Rice. Before becoming a Care Pro, Mary had worked for another service in Victoria and as a private-duty caregiver. “When I went to Home Instead in Victoria, I was immediately impressed with all of the staff. For one thing, they are quite genuine. I also was impressed with their mission statement, the protocols they shared and the employee orientation,” Mary said. “All members of the office staff are top-notch. I have so many good things to say about them.”
Before she entered professional senior care, Mary was a national education consultant for mathematics and science. As her parents began needing more assistance, Mary returned to teaching mathematics to at-risk students. “When I needed increasingly more flexibility to support my parents, I entered the world of caregiving. For my personal motivation and fulfillment, I feel
I must have a career in which I am helping others,” Mary said.
When asked what she likes most about her Home Instead Care Pro job, Mary explained: “Being ‘present’ and doing what I can to help individuals through the challenges that come with aging and to help them enjoy their lives. I mentioned ‘presence’ because that is the most frequent feedback I receive from clients. Many have said that it’s not the tasks I do to help them but being fully present when we’re together.”
When Maegan announced Mary had been honored as Care Pro of the Month, Maegan said Mary displays Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.” Praising Mary, Maegan said, “I had a ‘proud momma moment’ with Mary when another Home Instead owner serendipitously saw Mary in action with one of our clients.”
Maegan explained: “The owner from a Home Instead office in Louisiana was in Victoria when Mary and her client were at a popular grocery store. The Home Instead owner called after she stopped at the grocery store while passing through town. The owner saw Mary in her Home Instead swag as she was helping her client. The Home Instead owner was blown away with such great work she saw while observing Mary. The owner stated, ‘Mary looked like one of the Care Pros in the brochures we pass out.’ The Home Instead owner was very impressed and took the time to give us a call and give Mary an awesome shoutout!”
At our award-winning Home Instead franchise, owned by Pietro Jordao and Dillon Rice, Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (361) 433-0330 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
