The unflappable Katrina Fletcher is a Care Professional of the Month because she embraces a challenge just as much as she embraces the relationships she forms with her clients. When Katrina joined Home Instead® of south-central Houston in June 2023, she traveled to a client’s home for the first time and was met with this greeting from the client: “Leave me alone.”
For Katrina, patience is truly one of her many virtues. Along with empathy and compassion, Katrina was well equipped emotionally when she entered professional caregiving 20 years ago. She admitted: “It takes a special personality to do this kind of work. It’s certainly not for everyone. You can get close to many of your clients, depending on how close they want to get. I do make a very big effort.”
With Katrina’s first client, it took about two weeks to win her over. “My client was living with her husband, but she was entering a new phase of life where an unknown person – me – was coming into her home to take care of her, so you can understand her reluctance at first.” Eventually, Katrina’s bonds with her client were so strong that her client’s husband requested that Katrina return to them despite the fact that the client was hospitalized twice for about a week or two each time. “They didn’t want anyone else,” Katrina said.
As her dementia has deepened, Katrina’s client can’t talk much at all. But the client, who at first didn’t want Katrina’s help, lights up when she sees Katrina arrive. “Now she is happy when I come in the door. I always say, ‘Hi, friend!’ She looks up and manages to say, ‘hi!’ Other communication can be seen in her facial expressions,” Katrina said. “In general, I feel really good that all of my clients love me.”
Katrina’s relational success with the client and her husband didn’t surprise Home Instead Scheduling Coordinator Jessica Williams, who announced Katrina’s honor as Care Pro of the Month for owner Greg Gomez-Mira’s award-winning franchise. Jessica said: “Katrina goes above and beyond the call of duty for her clients. Throughout the week, she works with four regular clients who all need something different as far as their care plans go. She also engages with the clients very well, and their families really appreciate it.”
Katrina entered professional caregiving 20 years ago through a friend. “After I had done it for a while, I knew for sure what I wanted to do. I like to take care of people,” Katrina said. “I have all of the skills to be a CNA, but I am working on classes to get it all wrapped up. I have worked in all realms of caregiving, including time with other agencies and for an assisted living care community.” For about three years, Katrina took care of a friend who had lupus. “She died in 2015. I helped her as much as I possibly could, just as if I were an RN,” Katrina said.
Last year, she saw a Home Instead television commercial and applied. “Every day is something different. The clients have different personalities and different challenges. I love them all,” Katrina said. “I’ve had two regular clients since I started, including the one lady of whom I spoke. The other is a gentleman. Then I added two more clients. Two clients have mobility challenges, and one of them also has dementia. With two others, mobility is not a problem, and I am pleased to help them live as successfully as they do.”
She added: “As far as considering my future, I want to stay with Home Instead. The office staff is very nice and considerate. They understand our different challenges. That is good leadership.”
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.
