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Tom Smith
Continuing Care Assistant
The field is really growing right now. My career options are limitless.
Tom Smith
Tom Smith was 40-years-old when he decided to pursue a new profession. The decision to change careers was difficult, but Tom already knew that he'd found his calling. "My last job had been with troubled youth and I always felt like something was missing. I knew I wanted to help care for people – the surprise was that it was seniors."
Tom's journey began in the laundry room of a continuing care facility. A dedicated employee, he was soon transferred to housekeeping and then to patient-sitting. Working with patients helped Tom discover a natural ability for relating to seniors."I started noticing that if the staff were having trouble administering medication or getting residents into a bath, I was able to calm and persuade them."
Tom decided to develop his skills through NSCC's Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) program. He has recently graduated with honours and already has casual positions in two facilities in the Cumberland region. After two decades of worrying about when the next contract was going to end, Tom feels secure. "The field is really growing right now," he says. "My career options are limitless."
Tom's experience at NSCC was such an enriching and positive one; he's considering returning to school to further his credentials. "When I began the CCA program, I really thought that would be it, but I've been exposed to so much through NSCC—the possibilities just continue to grow," he says. "It's wonderful and sort of overwhelming to leave my comfort zone but I am just so excited about where my life is going."
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