Honoree JoJo Is on the Go-Go for Home Instead
Tireless Betty “JoJo” Lara won’t ever admit it, but she probably meets herself coming and going each week, especially when she’s making the 2-hour, 45-minute trip from her Gardendale home to care for a client. The Home Instead® Care Professional of the Month makes the trip three times a week for many reasons, including a strong sense of duty to a man in his 90s who lives in a sparsely populated area where other assistance is nil.
“By helping him, I’m taking some of the stress and pressure off his wife, who is not a client. His wife can’t handle it seven days a week, nor should she be expected to do so. They are a dear couple,” JoJo explained. “Other than a nurse, who stops by on Tuesdays to check on him, there is no one else in their area who is available to help him. They are lonely and need companionship in addition to the physical help I provide.”
JoJo assists the client and his wife on behalf of the award-winning Home Instead franchise of Midland-Odessa, owned by Lorena and William Shensky. JoJo’s other duties include regular two-day shifts with another client plus helping the office staff as needed.
“JoJo has been instrumental in shadowing Care Pros when needed to help with their caregiving techniques. She also has handled Care Pro-client introductions. Furthermore, we are considering a meal preparation class that she’d lead, which would benefit our Care Pros who have little to no cooking experience,” said Imelda Hawkins, the franchise’s human resources director and recruitment and engagement coordinator.
JoJo does even more in Gardendale, 14 miles north of downtown Odessa. “JoJo is heavily involved in the community, and one of her favorite civic duties is disaster preparedness for her town and surrounding area,” Imelda said. “I hired JoJo on July 12, 2024, and could have honored her during her first month with us. JoJo is one of our most requested Care Pros, and her long drives take her to a military veteran southwest of Odessa. JoJo’s dedication and hard work led her to a unanimous nomination for this honor. We love JoJo!”
Does JoJo ever feel overwhelmed? Her answer is a resounding “no.” She said: “I am very active.
I hike, kayak, hunt and fish. I am the farmer, and my husband is the rancher on our acreage. I have a milk cow and grind my own wheat into flour. We have dogs and chickens. My husband is a cowboy who was in the military. He used to train cutting horses and worked with quarter horses. I also take care of my mother from afar. She lives about 25 miles north of us.”
JoJo said her mother’s work as a CNA sparked her heart of compassion for seniors. “When I was growing up, she took me to visit nursing homes. The residents would offer their wisdom to us in their stories, which they eagerly shared. Being around seniors really grew on me. Professional senior care is a fairly recent journey for me, one in which a church friend encouraged me to try.
I had been an account executive and retired from that job in 2011,” JoJo said.
JoJo’s bottom line in life is “serving others.” She said: “When you do that, you are serving God.
My attitude is that I try to find someone to help. I enjoy what I do. Just think of it: Home Instead pays me to enjoy my day. I feel no stress. God has blessed me while I drive a distance to help my client and his wife. I knew I could do this. I love to travel. Life is good. I have no intention to leave Home Instead. Home Instead is an amazing company.”
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.
