Four seniors – two couples – are regular Home Instead® clients of Care Professional of the Month Terry Jordan-Keets, and they couldn’t be more appreciative of Terry’s assistance. The clients could feel Terry’s compassion and empathy on the day she showed up to assist them. In fact, one of the clients told Terry at the end of her first shift: “I like you and want you to come back. I will call the office to arrange it.”
The 71-year-old client likes the way Terry interacts with her 81-year-old husband, who lives with dementia and uses a walker. Among the many ways in which she helps, Terry encourages him to walk inside the house with her, and they go outside if the weather permits. His wife is a retired pastor who appreciates Terry’s compassion. Remarkably, with Terry’s other client couple, the 80-year-old husband also is a retired pastor. He too appreciates Terry’s help, and he loves to joke with Terry and also prays with her.
As much as Terry’s assistance is appreciated, Terry said she receives fulfillment from the deep bonds she has forged with her clients. “They are a source of moral support,” said Terry, a widow who has the full-time responsibility of taking care of three grandchildren. Her youngest grandchild was orphaned in January 2023 when her mother was the victim of a homicide in their native Indianapolis, Indiana. The other two grandchildren were orphaned when Terry’s oldest daughter died in April 2020 as the result of severe diabetes. “I am here all alone with my three grandchildren without other family, but I do have a good friend here,” she said.
Referring to her challenges and tragedies that drove her to move from Indianapolis to Houston, Terry said: “I’ve been through the storm with God at my side. Those things test your faith. My husband died in June 2020 as a result of health problems. I was his family caregiver.”
She added: “The heartbreak continued most recently when a woman was convicted of murdering my 33-year-old daughter nearly three years ago. I went back for the prison sentencing two weeks ago. Home Instead was very understanding, and one of the retired pastor clients prayed with me for strength before I left. He is a prayer warrior. Mr. E. has counseled me and has told me when he thinks I needed a pat on my back. He and his wife are great people.”
Before moving to Houston to start over at age 60, Terry had spent 33 years with an Indianapolis public school district as a highly successful full-time supervisor. She had done a little bit of everything, including HR work of hiring and firing. On March 26, 2024, Terry joined Home Instead. “That was the happiest day of my life. I came back from the Home Instead office with a smile on my face after a positive interview. They called me later that day and told me I got the job. Things were definitely looking up for me,” she said.
Terry smiled when she talked about her journey to Home Instead after arriving in Houston. “I always have enjoyed being a family caregiver. It is something that has stuck with me. I’ve been a mom to five children. Of course, I am taking care of three grandchildren who lost their mothers. I’d have to say that professional senior care wasn’t one of my goals when I moved here. A good friend, Lateeta Carson, who is a Home Instead Care Pro, told me about her employer. As I listened, I thought to myself, ‘I could never do that job.’ But as they say, you never say never. I never saw myself doing personal care for adults. But I thought about it and reconsidered because I care for people. I tried it with Home Instead, and I do love all aspects of care that I do,” Terry said.
“Home Instead has flexible scheduling to fit my situation. I can take the grandkids to school before my client shifts and then finish working and pick them up when school’s over. Home Instead is accommodating when its employees need to worry about their families and home life, and I appreciate it. I am happy and proud to say I have 15 grandchildren in all, in addition to three great-grandchildren.”
Home Instead Human Resources Manager Margi Kenny announced Terry’s November Care Pro of the Month honor at the award-winning south-central Houston franchise that is owned by Greg Gomez-Mira. Terry said: “This will be the final job of my work career. I don’t plan to go anywhere else. I love the job. Home Instead works with me. They meet my needs 100 percent.”
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 at homeinstead.com/541.
