Caregiver Appreciation

Our caregiver of the month is the FaBuLoUs Tammy Hull! I think many of us can relate to Tammy's exposure to homecare: she didn't even know this industry existed until she needed it. Once she discovered it, she pursued it, and she's EXCELLED as a home care aid. While her experience in senior care is vast, Tammy shared with our office that she prefers to work with clients one on one. Having had Tammy in our Right at Home family has been a great fit! Thank you for loving on our seniors, Tammy!

Makaila Lewis may be young, but she's spectacular! Can you believe that this sweet young woman has the skills to take care of total care, bed-bound needs with nothing but joy and servitude in her heart?! Makaila got her start in caregiving when she was young. Her own grandma became bedridden. This experience prompted Makaila to pursue her certified nurse aid training. Being a CNA has opened the doors for her to work in a variety of environments, but she favors the 1 on 1 work environment above them all. She finds her joy in not only caring for her clients, but also in knowing she's taking a burden off the family members, if even for a short period of time. Join us on congratulating Makaila!

Ms. Jean was born with a heart for helping in any way she could. She got her start in health care when she was in college, working in a hospital. She was privileged with the opportunity to work in various departments over the years, from dietary services to labor & delivery and everything in-between! Her relatives were especially grateful for Ms. Jean's sweet heart of service because she transferred her skills & knowledge to the family as age took its toll on them. Right at Home was thrilled to add Ms. Jean to our family when she came to us in February this year. She's been a joyful, dependable, and caring aid for our clientele. She's much loved and appreciated by all who know her.

We are celebrating Mary McCannon as caregiver of the month! All of her clients love her dearly. Right At Home Memphis is blessed beyond measure to have Mary as part of our family.

Our caregiver of the month is Orlanda Easley! This wonderful lady has made it her mission in life to turn lemons into lemonade. After helping her own relatives navigate life’s tragedies, she took those acquired skills and applied them to our Memphis community. There’s nothing Orlanda can’t do. In the few short months she’s been with us, she’s been a star! We’re lucky to have her, and if she’s taking care of someone in your family, you know as well- you won the jackpot .

Danielle Houston has been with Right at Home for about 8 years now. When she first came to us, her experience was limited in professional caregiving. Her only exposure had been in caring for her own grandparents, but that was enough to let her know this was a path she was interested in exploring more. With each client she learned a little more about high needs elder care, and she expressed deep gratitude for the acquired skills because she’s been able to assist her own family members in a way no one else could. Before Right at Home, Danielle worked in warehouses. After working at Right at Home, she hopes to never go back to that sort of work. She’s found where she shines, and it’s in caring for others. When asked why she’s stayed with Right at Home for so many years, she said, “It’s the people in the office. They work with you and there’s definitely mutual respect. I like that I get to decide my schedule and be as busy or free as I need.” Danielle’s client called in to the office to comment. “Danielle is the best caregiver I’ve ever had. Y’all made the right choice.” Thank you, Danielle, for your hard work, loyalty, and gentleness.

It’s time to honor Yvette Ragland for caregiver of the month! She started out caring for her own relatives as they aged, and found she enjoyed it. Yvette was encouraged to go back to school to get her CNA license. Although Right at Home doesn’t require our caregivers to have their CNA license, it does open more doors. Yvette told me she enjoys working for Right at Home because of the convenience factor. She loves getting to pick her schedule and the families she serves. The office staff provides her plenty of feedback, most of it positive, without anyone looking over her shoulder. We love having you on staff, Yvette!

Rodney Allen has been in the industry for a long while. He got his foot in the door when a nursing home took a chance on him 25 years ago! When asked what brought him o the home care industry, his answer gives us all a glimpse into Mr. Allen's heart and motivations. He noted that in a nursing home, he worked with 15 patients during his shift, which wasn't truly allowing him to help anyone improve their quality of life the way he could if he was assisting through one-on-one care. At the time, his sister was one of Right at Home's employees and she coaxed him into applying. Mr. Allen said he likes working for Right at Home because we let our caregivers choose the zip code they work in, let's the caregivers decide if the patient is a good fit for their personal skills and strengths, and he also likes the flexibility in the amount of work Right at Home offers; someone can work as much or as little as their needs change. We want you to continue to find rewarding purpose though our shared mission: improving the quality of life of those we serve!

Marquisha Braxton is Right at Home's caregiver of the month for February! She's been with Right at Home for 5 years and she's blessed a lot of families in that time. Marquisha enjoys working in homecare because it's where she can offer that specialized one-on-one interaction because her attention isn't pulled in different directions. She values being present and providing for the needs for those who can't do it for themselves. Congratulate her for her hard work and dedication to those in her care! We appreciate you and hopefully we will have many more years together!

Right at Home East Memphis has chosen to celebrate Yolanda Abston as caregiver of the month for January! Yolanda has been with Right at Home for 7 years, and we’re so grateful for the years of dedicated service she’s given to the city. Unlike other caregivers we’ve showcased who have served several families, Yolanda has been with the same family all the years she’s been with us. Before coming to Right at Home, Yolanda took care of her own family members. That opened her eyes to the prospect of transitioning from her former career to this one. Between family and clients, Yolanda is always taking care of someone, but it hasn’t stolen her joy. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think she was the most carefree lady in West Tennessee! Yolanda is a reminder that joy is a choice and service to others creates joy. Thank you Yolanda for your loyalty!

Melody hasn't been with Right at Home very long, but with a work ethic like Melody's, it doesn't take long to get noticed. Melody's start in caregiving began after an exhausting 22 years in restaurant management. The demanding hours and demanding customers can take a toll on the body and mind. Needless to say, Melody was ready for a change.

Melody had encouragement from relatives that work in the medical field to consider a career in caregiving since she'd been such a blessing to her grandmother as she aged in place. Melody decided to give it a try. Our phenomenal HR guy won Melody over, and she's been a ray of sunshine to the families she's served.

When asked why she does what she does, she'll tell you, "I love being that helping hand". Melody has decided this will be the field she retires from. She's found her true calling, and we at Right at Home plan to keep her around for a long time! Thank you for your service to our community, Melody!

Roy Brown, like many of his colleagues, had the seed of caregiving planted when he was young. Roy’s aunt didn’t want to miss church so she called on Roy when he was a boy to stay with his cousin, who was wheelchair bound. Years later, Roy found himself a career in janitorial management. He married, had a few kids, and now he’s busy spoiling quite a few grandchildren. However, he wanted to rekindle that feeling of value he felt taking care of his wheelchair bound cousin. When the time was right, Roy sought out a caregiving opportunity to serve an individual that was far advanced in dementia. That feeling came back to him, one that’s hard to put into words… there’s just something really beautiful about being a servant to others, and that feeling is magnified when others show their appreciation. Roy came to Right at Home last year. Right at Home is absolutely a better company with Roy on staff. He’s kind, respectful, hardworking and most importantly- he’s with Right at Home for the RIGHT reason! He told me “I get to do my best at something I love”. Thank you, Roy! You’re an example to us all!

It has been my personal privilege to get to know each one of our caregivers, for they have a heart from heaven to do what they do. Speaking with Eva left me feeling no different. When I told her she was June's caregiver of the month, she said "I believe in fulfilling the title 'caregiver'." Eva has a lengthy history of caring for others, first in her family, and then in the Memphis community. She could be enjoying her retirement right now, but according to Eva, that was "depressing". She believes her caring nature came from her mom. Like her mom, Eva passed that same sweet nature on to her daughter, who suggested to her mom she try her hand at professional caregiving alongside her at The Village of Germantown. Eva thrived. However, when COVID came along, Eva, understandably, made the personal decision to step away from the Village of Germantown with all the restrictions put in place. We are so grateful she came along to join our staff. Eva is a joy. She's beautiful inside and out! She's punctual, responsive, empathetic and a hard worker. The families in her care are quite blessed, to say the least.

Barbara started taking care of family as a child before realizing this would be her career one day. What began with looking after two little brothers (both of which are very successful today!) grew into more responsibility taking care of her grandparents as they aged.

At 21, her family no longer needed to depend on Barbara, so she found work at the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. She was a faithful employee there until she retired in 2016. Like a lot of people, Barbara didn’t take to retirement much, so after only 6 months, she went back into the caregiving business.

If you ask Barbara why she settled on Right at home in 2022, she will call it “divine intervention”. Barbara says she enjoys working for Right at Home more than other employers because of the weekly pay & the hours she’s able to easily accumulate. She has been paired with a family that treats her like one of their own. What was once a “willful” senior, not wanting any help, has come to trust and depend on Barbara in a way that leave us all in awe! Ms. Barbara Woods just might be made of magic y'all….

The Right at Home Memphis' office is celebrating Priscilla Taylor as April's caregiver of the month! Priscilla came to work with Right at Home after years in factory work. She was ready for something more meaningful. The last several months, Priscilla has devoted her time to two clients that depend heavily on Priscilla for their daily needs. Rain or shine, Priscilla has been a dependable, punctual, compassionate light to the families she has served. Thank you, Priscilla, for using your time and energy to be a servant to others!

After graduating high school, Brenda knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life: caregiving. It was something that she enjoyed, and the job came somewhat naturally to her since she’d been helping take care of her grandma and god-mother from the age of 7.

After working in the caregiving business for 30+ years, Brenda came to work with us in 2021. She said Right at Home is the best employer she’s ever had; she appreciates the communication from Bill and scheduling, and of course she doesn’t hate the pay or benefits! Brenda also noted that the variety and number of clients to choose from in the queue keep her interests peeked.

Brenda was selected because she goes above and beyond in her duties. She’s punctual, compassionate, intuitive of her client’s needs, and uses her lifetime of wisdom to be a blessing to the families she serves. Brenda. Memphis is undoubtedly a better place because of your heart.