Andreanna Smith, Caregiver at Caring Senior Service, has been named to the Frontline Honors Awards Class of 2025 by Home Health Care News.
To become a Frontline honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be:
- A dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes
- A passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into for the good of their respective industry, the patients and residents they serve, and their families
- An advocate for their industry and their fellow colleagues
Home Health Care News recently caught up with Smith to discuss her time in the home health & home care industry.
HHCN: What drew you to this industry?
Smith: Taking care of my sister who had metastatic breast cancer.
HHCN: What’s a misconception you had about this work before you started – and how has reality differed?
Smith: That you leave your work at work. The reality is that you continue to think of ways to make people happy, more comfortable, more at peace with whatever their situation is. I think of these things even after I clock out. The work of the heart is never done.
HHCN: Was there a moment in your career when you realized, “This work really matters”? What happened?
Smith: After hospice nurses got involved with my sister’s home care. I was able to breathe. I was able to think about other things that needed attention. I was able to cry. I then started working in home health care to give back to a service that truly changed my life.
HHCN: What’s the most valuable skill you’ve developed on the front lines that people often overlook?
Smith: Steadfastness! It doesn’t have to be easy, it has to be done!
HHCN: What’s one decision leaders make that has a bigger impact on frontline workers than they might realize?
Smith: Continuation of learning and sharpening of skills.
HHCN: What’s a simple change – policy, tool, or mindset – that would make frontline work more effective?
Smith: To act on positive feedback to prove that frontline workers’ insights matter and the positive results will spread to clients and other frontline workers.
HHCN: What gives you optimism about the future of this industry, despite its challenges?
Smith: That the hearts of people will continue to be dedicated to help others who are in need. That we will always be willing to help the sick, encourage the heavy hearted and support one another.