Right at Home Names Sheryl Thorstensen Caregiver of the Year for Midwest Region

Right at Home, a leading global in-home care franchise system with more than 600 provider locations in seven countries, has named Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based Sheryl Thorstensen Caregiver of the Year for the Midwest Region.

Selected from a pool of more than 25,000 caregivers, Thorstensen received the honor because of her ability to empathize with others, a recent article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

“Being named Caregiver of the Year is the highest recognition any caregiver can receive from Right at Home," said Stacey Buechler, Right at Home director of employee experience, in the article. "She [Thorstensen] has this uncanny ability to connect with others using her humor, which lends itself well in her role with her clients."

According to Thorstensen, humor is an effective strategy when dealing with clients who may be feeling vulnerable. "Sometimes, clients get embarrassed when they can't remember something, but then we are laughing and making a joke, so it helps the client not feel embarrassed," Thorstensen told the Journal.

Shelley Reed, owner of the Germantown branch of Right at Home, said caregivers like Thorstensen played a critical role in clients’ lives during the pandemic, when fear and social isolation intensified anxiety for many seniors. "There was an element of depression [in the clients' lives] to begin with," said Reed. "The pandemic just amplified it further."

During the lockdown, Thorstensen said she made an effort to decrease her clients’ anxiety by encouraging them to turn off the news and instead watch shows like “Gunsmoke” and “Bonanza.” She also spent a lot of time listening to their life stories and provided tech support so they could FaceTime their families.

Every year, Right at Home recognizes exemplary caregivers within its system — including eight caregivers at the regional level and a national Caregiver of the Year — whose purpose-driven work betters the lives of those they are entrusted to serve.