During a life-changing transition for her 81-year-old client, two-time Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Linda Flores-Roque has been a consistent source of reassurance. Linda has been assisting the client for nearly a year, and their bonds included a strong emotional thread the client sorely needed during a stressful time.
“My client recently moved to assisted living after having lived with a family member. At first, she didn’t want to go,” said Linda, who is her client’s only Care Pro and is a member of the award-winning team at Home Instead of south-central Houston. “On that first day, she asked if she could go home. She was in a bit of a panic and didn’t want to be left alone. I comforted her and helped her to ease into her new surroundings.”
Linda added: “Before I left on that first day, I took my client to the dining room and promised I’d be back in two days. As I had anticipated, she was eager to see me return. She knows who I am but does not remember my name. Each time when I arrive, she says, ‘I am always looking for you to return and am happy when I see you.’ ”
The client was especially happy on a June day when Linda arrived on the client’s birthday with balloons and candy. “She remembered her birthday on the Friday before it occurred on a Monday. She was anticipating it, and I had not forgotten. She thanked me. She’s a sweetheart. Nine out of 10 times she is in a very good mood. She can be repetitive, and sometimes she realizes and apologizes, but I reassure her that it’s nothing to worry about. I listen to every word.”
Linda’s patience, empathy and compassion are among the many reasons why she was honored as a Care Pro of the Month for the second time in 13 months.
While announcing Linda’s first award in September 2024, Home Instead Schedule Coordinator Jessica Williams said: “To me, Linda is the epitome of a team player. She rolls with the punches for any client who I assign, and she does it with a smile. I wish I had more Care Pros like Linda who are willing to take the harder cases just to further their knowledge and experience in this profession, where each client’s situation is truly unique.”
Referring to Linda’s second award, Jessica said: “It’s simple: Linda continues to build trust, take the lead and share her heart. Those are Home Instead’s guiding principles.”
Linda joined owner Greg Gomez-Mira’s Home Instead franchise on May 22, 2024. “In general, this job has been a great fit for me because I always had been taking care of a family member, one right after another. I treat my Home Instead clients as if they were my parents,” she said. “I make sure I give my clients a warm smile as soon as I come through the door. Empathy is really important as far as I am concerned.”
During Linda’s job search, she went to Indeed.com. When asked for professional references, Linda couldn’t give any, since she had not previously worked in the professional senior-care field. “But I had cared for a number of those near and dear to me,” Linda said. “As a result, Home Instead’s staff still reached out to me because they saw the value of what I had done for my family. I had cared for many of them, including my maternal grandparents, my parents, an uncle, an aunt and a brother. I also helped a close friend of our family for six months. They all have passed away.”
In addition to Linda’s regular client who is in assisted living, she has a second regular client who has Down syndrome and the early stages of Alzheimer’s. “He lives with his parents. His mobility is good, and he can handle a lot of things for himself. He has a pretty good idea of what to do. I remind him to do such things as dry his hair, and I help pick out his clothes. He comes down for breakfast when I arrive,” Linda explained. “In the late morning, he goes to a program for those with early onset dementia. He remembers me and is glad to see me. He is a sweetheart.”
Looking to the future, Linda said: “As long as Home Instead keeps me on, I’ll stay. In my eyes, there really have been no challenges. I enjoy my clients and look forward to going to work each day. If I can put a smile on a client’s face or get them to laugh, I feel fulfilled. If the client is happy, I am happy. They are like my parents. I want to make them happy. Each one is different, but there is a commonality as far as craving companionship.”
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.
