Her enthusiasm is contagious. She’s always busy helping someone, holding someone’s hand, or giving a listening ear and a compassionate smile to the residents at Woodland Ridge’s memory care neighborhood. Keeta Keeton, Woodland Ridge’s memory care engagement manager, has always had a passion for caregiving. Keeta Keeton is Smyrna Memory Care embodied.
Keeton, a native of Atlanta, has worked at Woodland Ridge for 15 years, but her career as a caregiver began much earlier in her life. When Keeton was in middle school, she was one of several family members who cared for her ailing great-grandmother. Taking on the role of a caregiver seemed very natural to Keeton, though, since her mother and her grandmother both worked in the healthcare field. Keeton grew up under the leadership of strong women who had a compassionate heart for others.
After graduating high school, Keeton became a CNA and began working at South Fulton Hospital. She planned to earn her nursing degree until the closing of the hospital and a new baby on the way forced her to look at alternative career options. Keeton thought about becoming a paramedic, but ended up in a cosmetology program instead. Though she worked for over a year as a cosmetologist, Keeton says, “taking care of people was more of who I am.”
She returned to the field of caregiving working at Woodland Ridge part-time as a CNA. Keeton has held several positions at Woodland Ridge, including being a floor supervisor and an activities director. Keeton loves her job and sees the residents as part of her extended family. She says, “You have to love what you do to come to work. You’ve got to really love your job.” Keeton’s great-grandmother passed away, surrounded by her family just before reaching the age of 100 years old. Keeton knows how important that sense of family is and she is excited to work with Woodland Ridge residents and share her sense of purpose with them. She says family members are usually surprised at how active and engaged their loved ones are after settling into the memory care neighborhood, and Keeton loves that sense of surprise and appreciation when family members see their loved ones experiencing joy—a joy Keeton proudly makes possible every day.
Need more Keeta Keeton in your life? Get in touch with her today and learn how Woodland Ridge can help with your family’s memory care needs.
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