Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Joey Cook, an outgoing young man of many interests, draws on his deep knowledge of vehicles when he’s with one of his clients, who shares Joey’s love for cars because both had been involved with auto dealership sales.
“Once, when I drove my client to a grocery store, we noticed a new Tesla Cybertruck, a model that had just entered the market. Mr. B. asked, in an almost disgusted tone, ‘What is that?’ I said, ‘That’s the new Tesla, the Cybertruck.’ As someone who had sold pickup trucks,” Joey recalled, “I felt obligated to go on a mini-rant about the Cybertruck’s over-reliance on computers, the awful off-roading capabilities and the fact that stock Cybertrucks are unpainted stainless steel. And then there is the high cost.”
Joey added: “Then we saw someone loading groceries into the Cybertruck. Mr. B., an extrovert, struck up a conversation with the owner and asked about her Cybertruck. She said, ‘It’s great for someone who wants to drive a truck but wants the driving experience of an electric car.’ She praised the steering and engine response, which gave me a slightly higher perception of the Cybertruck. She offered a peek inside the vehicle, which Mr. B. happily accepted. We couldn’t figure out how to get the door handle to pop out, so the owner showed us. We shared a laugh. We were impressed with the interior and thanked the owner. I found this moment with my client particularly special, because we got to experience this new vehicle for the first time together.”
During that snapshot in time, Joey continued to build his relationship with the client over their interest in vehicles. In addition to vehicles, they also share an interest in theatre. Joey would have been equally comfortable with discussing the finer points of making tasty sandwiches, small businesses, politics, government, mathematics or faith-based subjects.
“My very first job was at Subway. In college, I was the first employee at a small retail start-up in Waco, Texas, where I technically was the assistant manager. Simultaneously, I was the treasurer and secretary of a nonprofit satire publication, ‘The Rope.’ When I first moved to Colorado, I worked as a car dealership salesperson,” said Joey, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government with a minor in mathematics in December 2022 at Baylor University in Waco. Joey was also involved in Baylor Theatre as a technician and in student musical productions as a producer. He currently is studying for his Master of Divinity at Naropa University of Boulder, where he hopes to graduate in May 2027.
In March 2024, Joey was getting a haircut and mentioned to the barber that he was looking for a new job with which he could also continue his graduate-school studies. The barber said her friend worked for Home Instead of Louisville, Colorado, and made it seem as if it would be a great fit for Joey, so he went online and applied for a Care Pro position. “I joined Home Instead at the beginning of April 2024,” explained Joey, who had not previously worked in professional senior care. But Joey had family caregiving experience.
“Toward the end of my father’s life,” Joey said, “I was visiting frequently to relieve my mother of sole responsibility. That was 2½ years ago. Now, with Home Instead, I enjoy my conversations with clients. I love listening to stories and learning from my clients. I have two regular clients, and I visit each one three times per week.”
It was easy to see that Joey was successful at one-on-one senior caregiving. In March 2025, Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Brenda Munro announced Joey had been selected as the Home Instead franchise’s Care Pro of the Month.
Joey’s clients could feel his compassion on the first day he began assisting them. That characteristic is considered when choosing an employee of the month. Of course, there are others. Has the Care Pro gone above and beyond the call of duty? Does the Care Pro possess the skills and wisdom to be successful? Finally, does the Care Pro focus on Home Instead’s training, processes and procedures of successful caregiving? In other words, does the Care Pro work to get better? For the Home Instead staff, the answers were yes.
Brenda added: “As a graduate student, Joey’s goal is to become a hospice chaplain. It was easy to see he was comfortable as a Care Pro because he had helped care for his aging father at the end of his life. Joey has been so great with clients. One of his clients said: ‘Joey is compassionate, polite, professional and a wonderful Care Pro.’ ”
Owner Mike Lammers’ award-winning franchise serves Boulder, Broomfield and northwest Adams Counties. He has owned the agency since July 2015. Brenda joined Home Instead in June 2022. Mike, Brenda and Joey are proud members of a franchise network directed by 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 needs of millions of older adults worldwide.
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (720) 890-0184 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
