Samantha Salazar credits her mother and grandmother for her extraordinary success as CAREGiver. "I am comfortable with seniors as a result of being around my grandma since I was a baby. Observing my mother at her job showed me how you compassionately care for seniors," said Samantha, a CAREGiver of the Month for Home Instead Senior Care® of Victoria.
Samantha's mother has been a resident assistant at several care communities since she was 20.
"Mom kept building on her experiences and does very well. Sometimes she'd take me with her on the job when I was young. While she was caring for the seniors, I'd meet some of the residents and interact with them. Mom is a role model, and now she is proud of me," said Samantha, who joined the award-winning Home Instead Senior Care franchise owned by Stephanie Niles on April 20.
Samantha is repaying a family caregiving debt to Grandma Salazar, who once took care of Samantha and now looks to her granddaughter for occasional personal-care help such as showering. "I was Grandma Salazar's only grand baby in our area. My cousins were living in Dallas and San Antonio, a distance away. Grandma Salazar had a big part in raising me," Samantha recalled.
Now, even though her grandmother has dementia, she still remembers Samantha. "That is a blessing of its own that she recognizes me," Samantha said. "Actually, it's mind-blowing what she does remember. She welcomes me with open arms. She struggles to take showers, and I help her about once a week as a family caregiver. She is assisted by capable professionals, but sometimes she is not comfortable with unfamiliar people helping her with personal care."
Samantha got her first taste of professional senior care while she was in high school, working in a care community for nearly two years as a server, cook and night receptionist.
"It was on my own initiative and not part of a high school program. Since it was something I did on my own, I wanted to give it my best shot. After high school, I worked at a different care community before I joined an in-home care agency late last year," Samantha said.
In February, Samantha suffered a miscarriage, and her job went on hold about the time when COVID-19 virus struck. "I was depressed. I wanted to get out and help others again. It was one way in which I thought I could feel better. I looked for a second job because I love helping others and wanted to do more of it," Samantha explained.
"I found Home Instead on Indeed.com, and they took me in during COVID-19. When my doctor insisted I hold only one job in order to take care of myself, I chose Home Instead because I really enjoyed the work. It has brought amazing joy to my life after my personal tragedy. At this point, I am working full time with Home Instead."
Samantha added: "I am very happy with Home Instead Senior Care and I feel welcome with the office – Maegan is great, as is the whole staff. Communication is good and scheduling is flexible. So amazing. I do plan to go to college. I plan to be a CNA. I want to learn more."
Recruiting and Retention Coordinator Maegan Coldewey said, "Samantha and another of our new CAREGivers are pretty identical if you look at their stories. Both ladies have done great since they began their journey with us. I love their eagerness to jump in and take any shift they can get their hands on. This franchise is so fortunate to have them both. Their attitudes are young and fresh, and nowadays that is hard to come by."
All Home Instead Senior Care CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For inquiries about CAREGiver employment , please apply online or call (361) 433-0330. For additional home care information visit Home Instead Senior Care.
Rewarding Care Careers in Victoria, TX
