Latoya S.

As a teenager when I used to care for my grandmother I always knew that I wanted to be a caregiver. I have been certified as a nursing assistant since June 2001. I love helping people because it's so rewarding. I just received my certification as CNA II May 2014. I am also CPR certified. I am the most kindest person you will ever meet and I love my job as a caregiver.

While working on my Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Secondary Education at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ, my paternal grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Having been a certified home health aide (while my children were young), I was the natural choice to care for my grandmother. While caring for her, I studied everything I could find on dementia and attended care conferences and symposiums in the tri-state area to learn as much as I could about the disease process and adaptations for care. When she passed away in 2005, I began looking for career options working with this very special population. I have been an Assisted Living dementia programmer/trainer/support group facilitator ever since. I have also had extensive experience with hospice, MS, dementia, and paraplegic care through Bayada Nurses, Inc. in Toms River, NJ. I have been a resident of Danville, VA for 4 years now; transferring to a sister building of the same assisted living facility that I worked for in NJ. In October 2014 I completed my Bachelors Degree in Human Services and Gerontology, summa cum laude, from Kaplan University. My goal is to become a fulltime dementia programming teacher; training healthcare providers, community service workers, lawyers, doctors, and emergency care providers.