To Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Sarah Parson, the secret to successful professional senior care is simple. She said, “The bottom line is to care for everyone as if they were your mom or dad, and the rest is easy. I like seeing my clients having a good day. If I can make that happen, hooray!” Sarah makes compassionate, skillful caregiving look easy because she’s been doing it very well forever … well, for a very long time.
Sarah explained: “I started my career in the home-health field as an aide, and my mother taught me just about everything she knew as a nurse. As a result, I got to see cases of all kinds. I spent 18 years in home health in every aspect, from supervisor to billing to payroll, and then to director. Those responsibilities taught me much.”
She pointed out: “The one thing that always stuck with me is how much elder care is needed and how a caring person can make all the difference in someone’s life. I see the clients light up when they know they’re in good hands, and what a great feeling that is.”
Describing how she joined owner Greg Gomez-Mira’s award-winning Home Instead franchise that serves south-central Houston, Sarah said: “After the death of my mother and a couple of my own bouts with COVID-19 during the pandemic, I was ready to get back to the people. I saw online advertisements for the company and took a chance. Lucky me! I’ve been with Home Instead for more than two years, and I’m enjoying my job and the staff.”
When Home Instead Scheduling Coordinator Jessica Williams announced Sarah had been honored as a Care Professional of the Month for Greg’s franchise, Jessica said: “Sarah has really taken one of our longtime clients under her wing. She’s given him a sense of family and belonging because of her companionship and care.”
Perhaps the client could feel Sarah’s compassion and empathy on the day she showed up to assist him. Those are two of the qualities that are evaluated when a Care Pro is considered for the employee of the month award. 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 highly successful? Is the Care Pro exceptional at her work with any client? 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 at getting better?
For Jessica and her Home Instead staff, the answers were yes. When Jessica announced Sarah’s award, Jessica said Sarah displays Home Instead’s guiding principles of “Build Trust, Take the Lead and Share Your Heart.”
In her efforts to bond with certain clients, one could joke that Sarah is friends with “seniors and their beasts.” She explained: “Lucky me, several of my clients have had animals. I have two cats and a dog, so not only do I get the joy of making the people comfortable, but I get some love from their pets too.”
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.
