Mellisa S.

I set out years ago to become a business professional, but somewhere along the way, I discovered that my true calling was in healthcare. What I do has never felt like just a job to me--it is a passion deeply rooted in caring for others and making a difference in their lives. My journey in caregiving actually began when I was just 12 years old, helping care for my grandmother after she broke both of her legs. That experience sparked something in me that never went away. Over the years, that compassion grew into a career and has given me many years of hands-on experience caring for and supporting others. I have always had an especially soft spot for the elderly. There is something incredibly meaningful about being trusted to care for someone who has spent a lifetime caring for others. I cherish hearing their stories, learning about the lives they have lived, and taking the time to know them as individuals--not simply as someone who needs care. To me, caregiving is about so much more than meeting someone's physical needs. It is about dignity, patience, companionship, trust, and helping someone maintain as much independence and quality of life as possible. Throughout my years in healthcare, I have been blessed to care for many wonderful people and build relationships with their families. I often say caregiving feels like being gifted with extended family members along the way. That trust is something I value deeply and will never take for granted. Healthcare may not have been where I originally planned for my career to take me, but I truly believe it is where I was meant to be.

I am an experienced CNA with my CPR license I've worked nursing homes in the rehabilitation, long-term and memory untils. I also worked in the ICU and ER at the Cookeville regional medical center. I feel though I have found my passion in working with people in there homes and helping them keep independence and dignity while going through the difficult time learning how to rely on others for things they have done there whole lives. I currently work with the intellectually disabled, and I consider my ladies as family rather than just clients. . I'm also punctual and have a reliable vehicle because I understand that people depend on you in this field.