Two vivid, heart-rending memories always have stuck in Care Professional of the Month Tressa Alverez’s mind and influenced her decision to apply at Home Instead® of south-central Houston.
Tressa’s great-grandmother had been her first best friend, and Tressa’s senior loved one had dementia near the end of her life. Tressa recalled: “I used to listen as she told me about the old days and other things. As her illness progressed, she went from knowing me to thinking I was a neighborhood child. I never corrected her, just smiled and listened to everything she said. My aunt took care of her during those days, and I paid attention to everything my aunt did. I thought, ‘When I get older, I want to be able to do that for someone.’ ”
During Tressa’s teen years, her great-grandfather was in a nursing home, and Tressa noticed which of the residents whose families did not visit them, and there seemed to be many. Tressa recalled: “I saw how lonely and sad they were. I thought, ‘I want to be a friend to them,’ but I did not get involved. That scene always stayed with me. I didn’t pursue involvement when I was younger because I thought I needed experience to know what to say and do, but I had none. I wish now I had followed my heart.”
So, when Tressa was looking for a job a little more than six months ago, she decided to apply for home-care positions because her memories as a young child had never left her. “I applied to a lot of different places and positions of all kinds. It came down to Home Instead, where I have been a Care Professional for a short six months,” Tressa said.
It turns out that Tressa is a natural at professional senior care. Home Instead Scheduling Coordinator Jessica Williams said, “Tressa’s kind spirit has helped a client who lives here in Houston all alone. Tressa has established a connection with this client and been a voice for her in moments where she hasn’t been able to speak up for herself.”
From her heart, Tressa said: “I like to be a friend to the lonely. I like to be the ear who listens. I like to make people feel as if they are seen, and their emotions and thoughts are valid. I like people to know they are not alone, and someone cares about them. Too often in life, even when people are well and have all their faculties, they just need a friend. I mainly take care of people who have no family relationships or strained family relationships.”
Tressa also does not shy away from challenging situations. “I have taken care of COPD clients and those with catheters. Dealing with personal care can leave some clients withdrawn.”
Tressa likes to get to know people and invite them to share their lives. “I enjoy making them laugh and forget their troubles. I like cooking their favorite foods, and reminiscing about better times in their lives,” Tressa said. “I like being there for them, and fighting for them when it feels as if all odds are against them.”
Tressa feels lifted up when she brings smiles on the clients’ faces when she walks into their homes. “I like the way they light up because I bring hope to their lives. Some people say this kind of job is a hard row to hoe, but I hope I am blessed with many years of making peoples’ last days as fun and enjoyable as possible. I hope they don’t think of their troubles and instead think of how good life is. I want them to think how wonderful life can be,” she said.
Sometimes bonding and relationship-building can be a work in progress that demands patience from a Care Pro. “I once was taking care of a gentleman, and we initially didn’t seem to have a lot in common. I sat in silence with him a lot of the time. But I made him smile and made his food and coffee just as he liked. I always was pleasant and kind, and he even let me help him on his projects,” she said.
Then one day, the subject of “Star Trek,” came up. Tressa asked her client about his favorite “Star Trek” character, and it was Spock. Tressa told her client, “Spock is my favorite too!” Tressa joyfully added: “We spoke a lot after that about different things and found more things in common. I was so sad at my client’s passing, but I had done all I could to make his life brighter in his final days. I hope to continue to do this service for many years to come.”
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.
