My grandmother, Mrs. Ida Ruth Nelson who I so affectionately called “momma” was a well-known cook in the local elementary school in Riviera Beach, FL. She was a soft-spoken women with a hearty and affectious laugh that made an appearance in most conversations. In 2015, she became ill and her doctors recommended that we place her in an assisted living facility, of which she refused. As her conditioned worsened, her doctors recommended we place her in a nursing home. Her financial resources were limited which made her options for senior care few. My mother finally located a nursing home willing to accept her, only to be disappointed by physical abuse and poor care. It was in this moment that I morphed from a granddaughter into a fierce protector. We decided to move her from the nursing home, bring her back to her home and take on shifts to provide her with the care she needed. The day we brought her home from the nursing home was the day that I made a silent vow that she would never be alone, she would never be made to feel as if she was a burden or mistreated.

This experience would shape me and lead me to the path to create a space where my grandmother would receive the finest care possible, in a loving, nurturing, and comfortable environment. It was nearly impossible for me to comprehend that a short time after we brought her home, we would have to make the grueling decision to place her in hospice. Sadly, in 2016 my grandmother passed away. It was one of the most painful days of my life. My grandmother was a steady presence in my life. Her warmth, love, hugs, and laughter were always a comfort to me. I enjoyed spending time with her and I loved listening to hear talk about when she got better, she was going to relocate to a new city and start a new life. This experience would shape me and lead me to the path to making it my life’s mission to serve others. I am especially passionate about working with elderly people to whom I have always been easily drawn to.  I believe the passion of working with seniors derived from me being raised in part by my grandmother. The impact of my grandmother’s love and support is what inspired my decision to open New Life Assisted Living Facility.