Home Instead

06/01/2026

"I have a ministry of encouraging people."

Joy Karienye brings discipline and purpose to her work as a Care Pro. Before joining Home Instead, she was a professional marathon runner who competed in 23 countries and served as an Adidas ambassador, a routine of 4 a.m. runs that still centers her each day. After immigrating from Kenya, she felt called to caregiving and changed her name to Joy to reflect her mission to help others heal. That determination shows in her care, including helping a 98-year-old client regain strength after a serious injury and come off hospice. Joy helps clients rebuild confidence and connection one steady step at a time.

Meet all of the 2025 Rising Care Pros of the Year: https://bit.ly/46JGmR2

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

You want the best for your loved ones, and so do we. With 30+ years of experience and a trusted network of compassionate Care Pros, we’re here when it matters most. Learn more at homeinstead.com 💚

05/25/2026

"I just love being around people... When they're happy, then I am happy."

Darla Amlong joined Home Instead in 2022 after moving back to West Point to be closer to her aging mother and seeing firsthand how much it matters to have the right support at home. When one client wanted to spend a weekend with her daughter, Darla drove 181 miles round-trip to make it happen, turning the long drive into a weekend adventure. She has created hands-on tools to help clients overcome frustration and surprised farming families with practical harvest care packages. Darla looks for what will make the day lighter, easier, or more meaningful, and then she does it.

This level of care is exactly why Home Instead recognized her as one of 10 Care Pros of the Year.

Check out all of the 2025 Rising Care Pros of the Year stories here: https://bit.ly/46JGmR2

05/24/2026

"Every single person is special for me. Everyone has something to tell you."

Margarita Arreola has been caring for older adults since 1995, first supporting a husband and then choosing to continue caring for his wife after he passed. That decision shaped the way she works to this day. Since joining Home Instead in 2022, she has become the steady presence families rely on, especially in hospice and complex cases.

Margarita reads moods quickly and responds with quiet, physical reassurance, calming anxious mornings, warming cold hands, and celebrating small wins like a client standing on their own for a few extra seconds. This level of care is exactly why Home Instead recognized her as one of 10 Care Pros of the Year.

Check out more inspiring stories from the 2025 Rising Care Pros of the Year: https://bit.ly/46JGmR2

05/22/2026

“Be someone they can talk to. They need to be heard. They need to be loved.”

Milagros Fernandez’s life has been shaped by courage and care. After leaving Cuba at 19 and building a new life in the United States, she discovered her calling in caregiving, first in a nursing home, then at home with her own mother for eight years after a stroke.

That experience continues to guide her. Milagros cares for every client the way she cared for her mom, with patience, dignity, and a wholehearted presence. Families describe her as a blessing, someone who brings comfort in both the quiet moments and times of crisis, often adding thoughtful touches like homemade flan to make a house feel more like home.

For Milagros, the greatest reward is simple: knowing she’s made someone feel seen, supported, and loved. It’s this deep compassion that makes her care unforgettable.

Discover more inspiring stories from the 2025 Rising Care Pros of the Year: https://bit.ly/46JGmR2

05/20/2026

You don’t have to stop living after a stroke, especially not as a caregiver.

“It’s a very lonely existence… but you don’t have to isolate. You just need to find a purpose each day.”

Caregiver Chats host Dr. Lakelyn is joined by Lana Wilhelm, who shares what it really looks like to go from nurse to full-time caregiver overnight—and the emotional reality that follows. From uncertainty and guilt to resilience and purpose, her story is a reminder that caregiver support isn’t optional—it’s essential.

If you’re caring for someone after a stroke, you are not alone. There is a community that understands and wants to support you.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: Life After a Stroke: Supporting the Caregiver wherever you get your podcasts. https://bit.ly/4d2wmVz

05/15/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and caregivers, this message is for you. 💚 In this clip, Dr. Lakelyn reminds us that your well-being matters just as much as the care you give. Take a breath. You’re not alone, and you deserve support too.

🎧 Tune into Caregiver Chats wherever you get your podcasts to join our community and find helpful resources for navigating care.

05/13/2026

We often hear from families just how much their Care Pro has changed their lives for the better by opening the door to independence, identity, and dignity for those who want to stay in the comfort of their own home. So we asked our Care Pros what this work means to them. Their answers point to something deeper, a call to find joy in helping others. 🫂

👉 If that sounds like you, learn more about becoming a Care Pro: HomeInstead.com/JoinOurTeam

https://youtu.be/frUnQIaDZyo?si=m9idOULLDv5xHpYN

05/13/2026

Caregiving has a way of bringing up life’s biggest questions.

In this episode of Caregiver Chats, Dr. Lakelyn welcomes back caregiving expert and author Dr. Aaron Blight for a more personal conversation about spirituality and faith in caregiving. If you remember his first appearance, you know how thoughtful his perspective is. This time, the focus turns to how caregivers find meaning, strength, and grounding during some of the hardest moments of life.

Caregiving often includes seasons of decline, uncertainty, and end of life. For many people, those experiences open the door to deeper reflection or a renewed sense of spirituality, no matter what they believe.

Together, they talk about:
• How spirituality can support caregivers across different belief systems
• The connection between meaning and resilience in caregiving
• Simple daily practices that can help sustain your spirit

If you have ever felt stretched emotionally or searched for something to hold onto during caregiving, this conversation will resonate.

🎧 Watch the full episode:
Apple: https://bit.ly/3QDDrnW
YouTube: https://bit.ly/4eeOaPo
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4n34cOK

05/11/2026

“The first year I was with him, his gerontologist actually tested him and saw an improvement in his cognitive scores.”

Barb McGee joined Home Instead in 2020 and quickly became known for her thoughtful, deeply personalized dementia care. She prepares for each visit with intention, creating activities that help clients reconnect with who they have always been. For one former biology professor, that meant picking up a paintbrush.

Whether sitting beside someone at end of life or stepping in to support her team, Barb brings a steady presence and genuine connection to every home. This level of care is exactly why Home Instead recognized her as one of 10 Care Pros of the Year.

Check out more inspiring stories from the 2025 Rising Care Pros of the Year: https://bit.ly/46JGmR2

05/10/2026

Mother’s Day can hold so many emotions—and all of them are valid.

If you’re caring for others today, grieving, celebrating, or just doing your best to get through it, here’s your reminder:
You deserve care too.
You deserve rest, kindness, and a little extra tenderness today.

Sending love to you, exactly where you are. 💌