Home Instead

Watch This Connection Blossom 🌸

For Barbara, connection started with a shared love of flowers—talking about what they need, tending to them together, and finding joy in the little things. From laughter and jokes to meaningful weekly routines, those common interests grew into something deeper. It’s a reminder that the best care doesn’t just support—it connects.

Blossom through great care and shared interests.

Call us today.

Itasca, IL: (847) 690-9825
Fox Valley, IL: (630) 274-5050
Naperville, IL: (630) 637-3360

Why Total Strangers Stopped Gretchen at the Supermarket

For Gretchen, grocery shopping with Amy isn’t just a regular errand—it’s an outing so full of laughter and light that even total strangers at the store have stopped to notice their glow. Amy has a unique way of keeping Gretchen’s spirit feeling incredibly youthful, proving that the right companionship makes you forget about age and focus entirely on the fun.

Bring back that youthful joy.

Call us today.

Itasca, IL: (847) 690-9825
Fox Valley, IL: (630) 274-5050
Naperville, IL: (630) 637-3360

"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

"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

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