WHAT IS YOUR TITLE AND ROLE AT UPHS-PORTAGE?
I am an Elder Associate at PortagePointe.

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR GETTING INTO HEALTHCARE?
I love helping people and I love the elderly. I used to love to visit my great-grandma in the nursing home when I was younger. When I was a junior in high school, a CNA class was offered and I fell in love.

WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU? WHAT IS IT LIKE WORKING IN THIS FIELD?
A typical day at PortagePointe for me is helping my elders get ready for the day. Helping with showers, and all other personal care tasks. I make sure their personal laundry is washed, am responsible to bring the elders to the dining room for their meal, and lastly making sure they are happy. I always take them to their activities and if there are none for that day, I make sure they can stay busy. We play board games, color, or I also do their hair and nails. Overall I just love seeing them smile.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN EMPLOYED HERE? HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN IN THE SAME POSITION?
I have worked at PortagePointe for 3 years. I left in August of last year to be a Traveling CNA. I did that for 8 months and then returned to PortagePointe in June of this year.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIG CHANGES YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THIS POSITION?
When I first started here 4 years ago, I was on the afternoon shift 3-11 pm. I am currently on day shift 7-3 pm, which is new for me. 

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF WORK? WHAT/WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL GEM?
When I am not at Portage working, I am at Gino’s working or cleaning an Airbnb for a friend. I like to stay busy. In my time off I enjoy the summer months more. Soaking up the sun, fishing with my fiancé, and sitting at the beach with my younger sisters. I also enjoy watching sportings events, including Michigan Tech Hockey which makes the winters go by a little quicker.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING AT UPHS – PORTAGE?
What I love most about working at UPHS-Portage would be the people I work with. Everyone is always smiling. I also love my elders here at PortagePointe. During this last year with COVID, it has been really hard on them not being able to see their family and to try and understand why they are talking through a glass window and not face to face. So being a CNA and being with them every day we now have become their family. Taking care of them and making them smile when their family can’t be here is so important – I think this is my number one favorite thing about being a CNA over the last 10 years.