“People who work in Caring Careers really care about people – you really have to have that heart to take care of someone when they can’t take care of themselves. That needs to be celebrated!”

That's what Gladys says about why people working in aging services, disability services and behavioral health services should be celebrated. The governor has proclaimed November as Celebrate Caring Careers Month in Minnesota – and everyone is urged to join the celebration.

Gladys has been working in aging services since 1990, shortly after arriving in the U.S. from the Philippines. She started as a Nursing Assistant at Good Samaritan – Ambassador in New Hope.

“It was all new to me because we didn’t have nursing homes in the Philippines, families take care of the elderly. I was 18 and I missed my grandparents. So I said ‘I am going to be nurse and take care of the elderly population’.”

That’s exactly what Gladys did, continuing to work as a Nursing Assistant while studying to become a Registered Nurse (RN). While working at Minnesota Masonic Northridge Home also in New Hope, she passed the exam to become an RN. She wanted to continue to advance her training, so she went to Augsburg University to get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, returning to Minnesota Masonic Northridge Home after she completed her degree. She worked as a case care coordinator, a case manager and then as director of resident services at Northridge before moving to her current position as clinical director at SilverCreek on Main in Maple Grove.  She’s been in this position for the past 10 years and she loves her work.

“I love it. Serving the elderly population what’s not to love – they have so many stories – even if they have dementia, you can ask them 'what did you used to do',” said Gladys. “Their stories are so amazing. We have a wall of honor with all of our residents who were in the military with their pictures and information about what they used to do.”

Gladys wants more people to experience working with older people. Many aging services providers are hiring and there is a shortage of care workers. This is what she has to say to people who have a heart to care for others about why they should consider working in a Caring Career, like aging services: "Go for it. Just do it. Do it. We need you. There are resources that can help you. There are mentors.”

Reflecting on what is most rewarding to her in this work, Gladys is quick to respond “Seeing the residents happy. That sounds cliché but that really is the most important thing to me. To help them be happy in their golden years is so rewarding.”

• Get connected with an aging services employer near you on CaringCareersStartHere.com
• Talk with staff at a CareerForce location near you about training and employment opportunities
• View resources to Celebrate Caring Careers Month in November