When I think about what first drew me to caring for older adults, I think of my grandmother.
In her later years, she taught me lessons about patience, resilience, and the importance of simply being present with another person, which I have carried throughout my life and career.
She showed me that care is not only about meeting physical needs. We must listen closely and honor the dignity that everyone is entitled to, so residents can feel safe and respected. Those lessons stayed with me, and they naturally led me to work in the long-term care profession.
This year marks 25 years since I began my career in health care. I earned both my bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in speech pathology from the University of South Florida, and I started out in the acute care setting as a medical speech pathologist. Early in my career, I was drawn to the clinical challenges of helping patients communicate, swallow safely, and regain important functions after illness or injury. That work is meaningful, and it gave me a strong foundation.
Over time, my path evolved. I found myself increasingly called to long-term care, where I could build deeper connections with residents and support them over time.
In the long-term care setting, I first served as a full-time speech language pathologist, and today I am proud to serve as Director of Rehabilitation and Speech Language Pathologist at the Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of New Port Richey.
What makes long-term care so meaningful to me is the combination of clinical purpose and human connection. It is about truly knowing the people you serve. You learn their routines, their worries, their humor, their life stories, and the goals that matter most to them.
That knowledge helps us deliver better care, but it also reminds us that every resident is a person first.
I love working in long-term care because it provides me with opportunities to build meaningful relationships with our residents. Caregiving involves slowing down to actively listen, and provide emotional safety, dignity, and respect.
In a fast-moving world, long-term care asks us to slow down enough to see the whole person in front of us.
That is one reason Careers in Aging Month matters so much.
This month is an opportunity to recognize the people who choose to serve older adults every day. Caregivers in long-term care include professionals across many disciplines. They are nurses, therapists, social workers, activity staff, nursing assistants, dining professionals, housekeeping teams, administrators, and many others. Every role matters.
The long-term care profession offers some of the most meaningful work a person can do. You have the chance to make a real, human impact that you can see every day.
My own journey, beginning with my grandmother, defined the past 25 years of my career and continues to carry me forward. Along the way, long-term care evolved from a professional setting to a calling for me.
During Careers in Aging Month, I hope you consider a career in long-term care. There are many ways to serve, many disciplines to pursue, and many opportunities to grow. What unites them is a shared commitment to caring for others with compassion and excellence.
I invite you to visit the Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of New Port Richey at https://newportricheyrehab.com/ and learn more about long-term care careers from the Florida Health Care Association at https://www.fhca.org/.
