Anne Ikpo’s goddaughter was right: Owner Greg Gomez-Mira’s Home Instead® franchise is a great place to work. Anne’s goddaughter is Enoobong Baker, the franchise’s Care Professional of the Month in March 2022. Twenty months later, Anne joined Enoobong among the honored Home Instead employees when Anne was selected as Care Pro of the Month in November 2023.
“ ‘Eno’ recommended Home Instead. She said, ‘You will love working with Home Instead.’ I have not been disappointed since joining Home Instead in January 2023. ‘Eno’ does love it, and so do I. Home Instead is very professional. I am so impressed. The office staff make me feel at home,” said Anne, who works as an in-home physical therapy assistant from Mondays through Thursdays during daytime hours. She works for Home Instead on weeknights and Fridays.
Referring to her PT assistant’s career, Anne said: “I have done that work for 15 years or longer. Many times I receive the opportunity to work with older people and conduct the physical therapy in their homes. In general, including physical therapy and my job as a Home Instead Care Pro, I believe some seniors are lonely, and they are eager to chat because they need companionship. The seniors are so happy to have someone to talk to. I treat them as if they are my own family. I am a CNA, too. I’ve been working in home care for a long time, close to 20 years.”
As a physical therapy assistant, Anne usually can make her own schedule. Explaining how her two jobs dovetail in her life, Anne said: “I don’t overwhelm myself during the weekdays. My Saturdays and Sundays are generally open, but I make myself available for Home Instead fill-in shifts if the timing is right.”
While announcing Anne’s Care Pro of the Month honor, Home Instead Scheduling Coordinator Jessica Williams explained: “Anne hit the ground running ever since she started with us at the start of 2023. She has stepped up for all types of cases, from overnights to companionship roles to hospice clients. She is helping one of our VA clients. He and his family members said, ‘Anne is now a part of our family.’ It goes without saying, Anne’s doing a great job!”
When Anne recently was scheduled to take off a day’s shift to travel, she asked a client and his family if she could get a replacement Care Pro, but they said they’d make do without her for that day. Jessica also asked them if they needed another Care Pro, but they said, “No, we’ll wait till Anne comes back. Enjoy yourself, Anne! We’ll see you when you come back.”
Anne said: “I was humbled. They were thinking of me, wanting me to enjoy the time off.”
One of Anne’s other clients is often “down emotionally.” Anne said, “I feel strongly about trying to uplift her. No matter how down she is, she always says, ‘Thank you.’ When she has acknowledged me for the help, it lifts my spirits. Overall, most of our clients treat us like family. They say, ‘We appreciate you.’ It always feels good to give a helping hand. A little love goes a long way.”
There always are challenges. “Sometimes I have answered the same question 10 times. And I hear, ‘Who are you?’ When you see them so stressed and feeling lost, you feel so sorry for them. This dementia client has shown appreciation. You keep working with them to try to make their day a little better. They need the human contact,” Anne said.
Greg Gomez-Mira’s award-winning Home Instead® franchise that serves Houston, Arcola, Bellaire, First Colony, Fresno, Greatwood, Iowa Colony, Lake Olympia, Meyer Park, Meyerland, Missouri City, Pearland, Quail Valley, Riverstone, Rosharon, Shadow Creek Ranch, Sienna Plantation, Stafford, Sugar Land, Sunnyside, Sweetwater, Thompsons and Westbury.
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (713) 774-2215 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
