Metairie, La., Resident Wins National CAREGiver of the Year Award

METAIRIE, La., June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bobbie Smith of Metairie, La., recently received national recognition for her work with older adults in the New Orleans area through the 2012 Mary Steibel the CAREGiver(SM) of the Year Award, the highest honor awarded by Home Instead Senior Care.  Home Instead is the world's largest provider of non-medical in-home care services for seniors.  Smith is a CAREGiver(SM) for the franchise office in Metairie and was selected from more than 65,000 CAREGivers for her dedication to older Americans.  She received the honor at the Home Instead annual international convention in Omaha, Neb.  

Service to seniors is a lifelong passion for Smith who as a child helped her grandparents care for the sick and elderly. "I strive to enhance the quality of life for seniors," said Smith, in accepting the award from Home Instead co-founder Lori Hogan. "I try to encourage my clients to stay as active as possible, and I work hard to make a positive difference in their lives.  I am happy and feel renewed when I see their progress . . . I thank God each morning for helping me to make a difference in their lives."

Smith, a senior herself, was specifically recognized for her compassion, hard work and for assisting a 91-year-old man, who recently moved to New Orleans, adjust to his new surroundings at a care community.

"My brother-in-law was very angry when he moved here," said Cheron Brylski. "Bobbie had the situation turned around in days."

Now the client is active in a retired photographer's group and regularly sings at the community where he lives, Smith added.

Lisa Rabito, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office employing Smith, told the awards presentation crowd of more than 1,300 that Bobbie's goal each day is simple:  To bring happiness to each client whose life she touches, and to make a difference.

"And make a difference she does," said Rabito. "She wears our motto – 'To us, it's personal®' – very well."

"It gives me joy to be with a client, even through death, because I have an opportunity to give comfort and a sense of peace through God's love," Smith said. "I assure them that they are loved and not alone. Each day God gives me new strength so I fly like an eagle. Working is easy when you love what you do."

ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

Founded in 1994 in Omaha by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care® network is the world's largest provider of non-medical in-home care services for seniors, with more than 950 independently owned and operated franchises providing in excess of 45 million hours of care throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, South Korea, Finland, Austria, Italy, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ more than 65,000 CAREGivers(SM) worldwide who provide basic support services – assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), personal care, medication reminders, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, incidental transportation and shopping – which enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. At Home Instead Senior Care, it's relationship before task, while continuing to provide superior quality service that enhances the lives of seniors everywhere.

SOURCE Home Instead Senior Care