The Meaning of Home: How My Experience with Home Instead Deepened My Purpose in Real Estate
There are moments in life when two seemingly different paths unexpectedly connect.
For me, one of those moments began through real estate.
I first met Amy and Tom Giovannani, the owners of Home Instead in Wells, Maine, during a real estate interaction. I had the privilege of helping them sell their home, and through that process, I came to know them not only as clients, but as people who had built something truly meaningful together.
After their sale, Amy and Tom shared these kind words:
“We had the best experience selling our home with Realtor, Karen Udiskey! She was very professional, extremely knowledgeable and was focused on our needs. She sold our home quickly, at the first Open House! Karen communicated every step of the way very effectively and made this process seamless. I sincerely recommend Karen for your Realtor needs, she was fantastic! Thanks again Karen!”
I was deeply grateful for their review. But what stayed with me even more was the heart behind the people who wrote it.
Amy and Tom had built Home Instead together with care, purpose, and dedication. It was clear to me that this was not simply a company to them. It was a mission. It was about service, dignity, compassion, and helping aging adults remain safely and comfortably in the homes they love.
That made a lasting impression on me.
As a real estate agent, I have always understood that “home” means so much more than a property address. But after meeting Amy and Tom and learning more about the work they were doing, I found myself thinking about home in an even deeper way.
I realized I wanted to do something that would allow me to give more of myself to others — not just professionally, but personally. I wanted to serve in a way that was quiet, meaningful, and rooted in real human connection. So I decided to take on a part-time role as a care provider with Home Instead.
What I did not expect was how closely that work would connect to my role as a Realtor.
In real estate, I help people pursue the lifestyle of their dreams. Sometimes that means helping a buyer find a home near the ocean, closer to family, or in a community that feels like the next right chapter. Sometimes it means helping a seller move on from a longtime home so they can downsize, relocate, simplify, or begin again.
Real estate is often about movement, transition, and possibility.
But as a care provider, I was helping people with something equally meaningful: the ability to remain in a home they loved for as long as life permits.
That realization stayed with me.
On one side of my life, I help people find home. On the other, I help people remain home.
In my role as a care provider, I became the friendly face at the door. The person arriving not only to help, but to bring comfort, conversation, patience, and presence. Sometimes that meant preparing lunch with a little extra care — sliced apples and blueberries placed on the side like a garnish, because even the simplest meal can feel special when it is served with thoughtfulness.
Sometimes it meant delivering food and water on a tray with the kind of presentation you might expect from high-end service, because dignity is found in the details.
Sometimes it meant creating a simplified dice game so we could enjoy a little fun, connection, and laughter together. Sometimes it meant watching Wheel of Fortune and admiring the colorful display of the wheel, the excitement of the contestants, and the familiar comfort of a daily routine. Other times, it was Jeopardy, waiting for the Daily Double and wondering — wouldn’t it be nice if life offered a daily double once in a while?
But in many ways, life does.
Sometimes the “daily double” is not a prize on a game show. It is a shared story. A quiet laugh. A familiar face. A small gesture of kindness. A moment that reminds us we are seen, valued, and cared for.
The elder family in my care are longtime residents of Massachusetts who later moved to Florida and now Maine. A loving couple married for 71 years. Seventy-one years of life, love, memories, family, stories, and home.
Through our time together, I have heard stories about their family, their history, and the people they love. I have met family members and felt as if I already knew them, simply because of the stories that had been shared with me. That is one of the beautiful things about caregiving: you are invited, gently and over time, into the story of a family.
One day, my elder client friend shared words of wisdom that I will never forget:
“It’s later than you think.”
Those words stayed with me.
To me, they were not meant to be sad. They were a reminder. A reminder to value the moments of each day. To appreciate the simple interactions. To slow down long enough to recognize the meaning in ordinary things. A meal prepared with care. A conversation. A laugh. A story repeated because it still matters. A familiar game show. A family member stopping by. A kind hand. A friendly face.
In a fast-paced world, those moments are everything.
And perhaps the greatest gift of the experience has been the appreciation I feel from everyone in the family — appreciation for the simple gestures of kindness that can so easily be overlooked in today’s busy world.
Working with Home Instead reminds me that every person’s relationship with home is deeply personal.
A home can represent independence. Safety. Memories. Family. Comfort. Familiar routines. A life built over many years.
For some people, home is the place they are dreaming of moving into. For others, it is the place they are trying so hard not to leave.
As a Realtor, I may be looking at market value, contracts, inspections, negotiations, and timelines. But behind all of that, there is always a human story. There is a family making a decision. A seller letting go of a place filled with memories. A buyer imagining a new beginning. Adult children helping aging parents navigate next steps. Someone trying to decide whether now is the right time to move, or whether staying in place a little longer is possible.
My experience as a care provider helped me become even more aware of the emotional side of those decisions.
It reminded me to slow down. To listen more deeply. To recognize that not every move is simply about square footage, price, or location. Sometimes it is about dignity. Independence. Peace of mind. Family support. Safety. Lifestyle. Legacy.
And sometimes, the best guidance starts with understanding what home really means to the person sitting across from you.
That is why my work in real estate is so personal to me. I do not see myself as simply helping people buy and sell houses. I see myself as helping people navigate some of the most important transitions of their lives.
Whether I am helping someone purchase a dream home, sell a longtime property, relocate to be closer to loved ones, downsize into something more manageable, or explore what the next chapter may look like, I carry that same belief with me:
Home matters.
The people inside the home matter even more.
My time with Home Instead strengthened something I already believed, but now understand more deeply. Real estate, at its best, is not just about property. It is about service. It is about trust. It is about helping people make decisions that support the life they want to live.
And sometimes, it is about helping them hold onto the life they love for as long as they can.
For me, that is where the connection between real estate and caregiving becomes so powerful. Both are rooted in compassion. Both require a sincere commitment to others. And both have given me the privilege of being invited into people’s lives at deeply meaningful moments.
That is a responsibility I do not take lightly.
Because whether I am helping someone move toward a new home or helping someone remain in the home they already love, the heart of the work is the same:
To serve with care, respect, and purpose.
If you or someone you love is beginning to think about a move, a lifestyle change, downsizing, relocating, or simply trying to understand what options may be available, I would be honored to be a trusted resource.
Karen Udiskey
Realtor® / Recruiter
EXIT Oceanside Realty | Wells, Maine
EXIT King Realty | Venice, Florida
203-313-4349
www.VacationlandHouseHunter.com/contact
Remember, you’ve got this one life, LIVE it!