KL
Karla Lanzas
Jan 28, 2026
Subject
Caregiver Testimony During the Winter Storm
Good morning,
I hope everything within the company is running as smoothly as possible and remains logistically stable, within what this winter weather allows.
I did not want to miss the opportunity to first and foremost express my gratitude to the company and to my patient’s daughter, Ms. Amel, for the trust, follow-up, and constant support we received during four days under extreme winter conditions and 48 hours without electricity, while staying inside a facility. I am also deeply grateful to my company, Home Instead, for all the monitoring, care, and support provided throughout this process. Ms. Lorraine played a fundamental role in coordination and care every step of the way.
I truly believe that no one can fully understand the true meaning of being a CAREGIVER until we are faced with a natural disaster—something completely beyond our control.
It was heartbreaking to witness many elderly residents who depended on oxygen sleeping in the hallways, as those were the only areas where electricity was still working. To hear them talking in the downstairs kitchen—since the entire building was sharing a single microwave to heat their meals—saying that they had run out of food and did not know what they would do if the winter weather continued. There was only one coffee maker downstairs for everyone to share, just to be able to have a single cup of coffee per person.
We did everything within our reach to keep Ms. Amel as warm and comfortable as possible. Thanks to God, by Monday her daughter was able to send us candles, which allowed us to keep, at least slightly, the living room warm—the space where we spent most of our time.
From day two onward, as we continued facing this situation, I did not only dedicate myself to Ms. Amel, but also made myself available to help others who were part of these shared circumstances. It truly became a collective effort. One of the neighbors kindly offered us a kettle with hot water so that I would not have to keep going downstairs just to heat water, allowing me to prepare hot tea for Ms. Amel, which she enjoys so much.
On a personal level, not knowing when I would be able to return home was difficult, yet I remain deeply grateful for the experience and everything I learned. I shared my fruit and cookies on Sunday, thinking we would be able to receive DoorDash that day—only to find that the streets were still frozen and everything remained at a standstill.
It was not until Monday that we were finally able to enjoy a proper and delicious lunch, just as we are used to. This was thanks to my patient’s daughter, who is a loving and dedicated daughter, always attentive to making us feel at home. I am certain that anyone who has shared time with Ms. Amel can attest to this.
I am grateful to my company for all that I have learned and for the experiences lived. I believe it is precisely these circumstances that help us grow and become better human beings, with strong values and high standards, worthy of carrying the name HOME INSTEAD with pride.
May God bless every family that turns to the company in search of our services, and above all, may God bless HOME INSTEAD and its entire coordination and logistics team.
With gratitude,
Karla Lanzas
Caregiver