Anita’s Compassion Overcomes Communication Barrier
Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month Anita Huehne’s client is bilingual. Although she primarily speaks English, she occasionally switches to Spanish. If others are slow to grasp what she says, the client can become frustrated. Sometimes Anita momentarily strains to understand and even speaks a few Spanish words to her client. “I try to get my client to slow down. I tell her to try again and use one word at a time. Sometimes her words are not clear. I really have to listen, but that’s OK because she is my lady,” Anita explained.
Anita and her client comfortably figure things out because Anita is a master at the expression of compassion, the most universal form of communication. With all clients, Anita noted: “Getting along with them seems natural because I’ve always respected seniors. I let them be as independent as possible as long as it is safe. There’s a fine line. I try to provide protective supervision. I don’t force my ideas. I tell them the pros and cons. Of course, there are activities of daily living where they need help.”
Referring to her 75-year-old wheelchair-bound client, Anita said: “She does assist me as I try to help. She puts her arms around my neck when we do transfers. I always count to three as I help her get up. She bears her weight. The technique is that I have my arms around her. There’s not a lot of room in her bathroom, but she has grab bars there and I am always with her.”
Having helped the client since the start of February 2025, their bond has grown. Anita said: “The client’s husband died a year ago. She made a point to introduce me to her sister on the phone. I’m not totally sure of the family situation. Clients can share with me, but there are parts of their lives where I don’t pry. She likes to watch politics on TV, and she laughs quite often.”
Imelda Hawkins immediately noticed last fall how Home Instead clients had become immediately drawn to Anita. Imelda, a former award-winning Care Pro, is the highly successful franchise’s human resources director and recruitment and engagement coordinator.
“Joining us at Home Instead in October 2024,” Imelda said, “Anita has made such an impression on us that we could not wait any longer to celebrate her as one of our outstanding Care Pros, so we honored Anita for the month of February, five months after she started with us.”
Imelda added: “Anita’s passion for caring for the elderly started in 1994 and has continued to this day. Her love for family is immeasurable, and she often travels up North to see them. When not at work, Anita loves spending time with her partner and playfully fighting her dog for his bone. Anita sure is one of a kind, and we are extremely happy to have her on our team!”
Explaining the genesis of her connection with Home Instead, Anita explained: “I had seen Home Instead on Indeed.com when I was looking for a job. When I noticed the company online and read about them, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. I’ve done this kind of work for more than 30 years. It is something I like to do.’ ”
Among her professional senior-care jobs, Anita had worked in nursing homes and in one-on-one caregiving situations.
“I have had good relationships with my senior loved ones since I was young. I was still in high school, in Illinois, when I was helping seniors. That is something for which I always have had a passion – helping seniors. I like helping those who are the underdogs of society, valuable people who have been marginalized only because of a number – their age,” said Anita, who moved in November 2020 from Platteville, Wisconsin, to Midland, Texas, where her son lives. “I have two daughters and a former daughter-in-law in Platteville, Wisconsin. I also have nine grandchildren, and one grandchild was born 10 days after I left Platteville. My son is here, but I have a lot of family in Wisconsin.”
Referring to the Home Instead franchise owned by Lorena and William Shensky since March 1, 2020, Anita said: “I love my job. Home Instead is very flexible. Samantha Hall, the scheduler, works with me a lot, and I appreciate it. I’ll be 74 on March 7 and feel as if I am still going strong. As long as I am able to get around, I’ll continue to do my job. I get close to my clients. They become like family. The only downside is that you eventually lose them.”
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (432) 689-4663 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
