Honoree Andrea Always Has Had a Huge Heart for Seniors
Long before Andrea Sherrer joined Home Instead® of Clawson, Michigan, she received a commendation from her U.S. Postal Service bosses. Andrea had gone above and beyond the call of her duties as a letter carrier to help seniors, especially in several life-threatening situations.
Andrea had befriended a number of residents at a senior-living complex while regularly delivering their mail. “The seniors got to know me. Delivering their mail was the favorite part of my job. Some residents would leave their apartments on walkers and in wheelchairs to say hi to me. You could feel their hearts, and I knew they all needed some love and encouragement. They even invited me to picnics,” Andrea recalled.
“As I got to know many of them, I learned their habits as I was delivering their mail. If they couldn’t come out to get their mail, I would walk their mail up to their doors. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to be kind. I wanted to make sure they got their mail.”
Andrea added: “During separate occasions, I noticed the unopened mail of a couple of the residents had piled up. I didn’t have a good feeling about it, and I personally checked on them. I found them on the floor and in need of help, so I called 911 and notified the apartment management.”
Fast-forward to March 24, 2023, when Andrea joined owner Bert Copple’s award-winning Home Instead franchise after she had retired from the U.S. Postal Service. After her retirement, Andrea simply wanted something to do. She recalled the fulfillment she had felt while delivering mail to seniors, but she had an even stronger memory of helping seniors. “Taking care of our parents was the impetus for my idea to take care of other seniors as a professional,” Andrea said, “and working with seniors has been a life-changer for me.”
Andrea pointed out that she didn’t have any certifications, such as “CNA,” but she applied at Home Instead with senior caregiving knowledge from serving in a volunteer program that assists seniors as well as being a family caregiver for her parents before they passed away.
“Taking care of my parents was ultimately the most valuable experience I had before I joined Home Instead. Mom and Dad each lived at home during most of their final years. I have three siblings, two of whom are still alive, a brother and a sister. We each took turns taking care of them. One of my sisters died, but she did her part to help,” Andrea said.
“My dad lived with me for a month when we lived at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Then he moved back to Michigan and stayed with one of my sisters until he died. Mom lived in her own home, and we all pitched in to keep her there. We were not going to put her in a facility. I have a daughter and a son. I hope they will do the same for me.”
Andrea, who was honored as Home Instead’s Care Professional of the Month for August, said her life’s motto is: “As a caregiver for all ages (she has a grandchild), I believe it’s important to learn from my elders and teach young people.”
She added: “I love my life, and I love helping others. I want to pay it forward. We all should strive to be compassionate, caring and patient. We need more love and compassion in society. That would go a long way to making life better for everyone. You have to give your unconditional love to seniors, and by doing that, you can reap blessings. In my church, we have a lot of seniors, and we treat them as if they were family. I participate in worship and fellowship with them. I tell them, ‘If you need something, please let me know.’
“Life is all about perspective. Living the Golden Rule is my main goal. My aim is to lift up others. How would you like others to treat you when you have aged to the point where you need help? The commandment to love others is most important. I pray for a love that emanates from my inside and becomes visible to others. I want to show a positivity that tells seniors that today is better than yesterday, and that tomorrow has a potential to be even better than today.”
While Andrea feels blessed by her job, she points out that there are challenges. “You never know what will be on seniors’ minds when they wake up. You’ve got to be ready to react in love and compassion. Seniors have lived their lives, and some of them think they might be close to the end even though they aren’t. I attempt to show them there is more life to live.”
While attempting to inspire her clients to see their coming days in a positive light, Andrea also thinks about what’s ahead for her as a Care Pro. “As long as the Good Lord gives me the strength, I will keep doing my job. It’s about what you get out of the job in terms of fulfillment. You do need to work in moderation and not get burned out. I am loving my schedule with Home Instead and never feel pressured to do more. I love my clients. I always tell my regular clients I’ll be back to see them. I thank God for waking me up each day. It can be hard because I’ve got aches and pains. Each of my days ends with me thanking God. I praise God all day long.”
All Home Instead Care Professionals are screened, trained and insured. For inquiries about employment, please call (248) 203-2273 or apply online. For further information about Home Instead, visit our website.
