LEXINGTON, Ky. — May 5, 2026 — For some, a career in healthcare begins as a job. For others, it starts with something more personal.
For Paulette Gaines, a Certified Nursing Assistant at Morning Pointe of Lexington Assisted Living, that calling began with her grandmother.
“I helped take care of her, and I loved it,” Gaines said.
Today, that early experience has grown into a meaningful career rooted in compassion, connection, and a desire to keep learning. Gaines, who has been part of the Morning Pointe team for one year and 11 months and currently serves as Lead CNA, has been named a recipient of the 2026 Kentucky Health Care Foundation Workforce Advancement Award. The award, valued at up to $1,500, will support her next step as she pursues her Kentucky Medication Aide certification.
“It was an honor just to be acknowledged, and to actually win it, I am grateful,” Gaines said.
Her journey at Morning Pointe has been one of steady growth, both personally and professionally.
“It has been wonderful,” she said. “I’ve learned, I’ve grown, I’ve met good people along the way. I’ve learned to be more flexible and work with others.”
As Lead CNA for the past five months, Gaines has taken on a role that allows her to support not only residents but also her fellow associates.
“I have been able to train and help my team,” she said. “I love meeting all the new people that come in, and I know they will be working at the Morning Pointe standard when I train them.”
That sense of purpose extends to the residents she serves each day.
“They all have something special they bring to the table,” Gaines said. “My residents make me smile, and I love helping them on a daily basis.”
The Workforce Advancement Award represents more than financial support. For Gaines, it is a step toward continuing a career she feels deeply connected to.
“I get to move up in a career that I truly love,” she said. “I get to pursue something different but still be in the community I love.”
“Paulette represents the heart of what we do every day,” said Chase Williams, Executive Director at Morning Pointe of Lexington Assisted Living. “Her compassion for our residents, her commitment to her team, and her drive to keep growing in her career truly set her apart. We are incredibly proud of her and excited to see where this next step takes her.”
Morning Pointe Senior Living has also played a role in encouraging that growth, she added, pointing to opportunities like Morning Pointe University and a culture that supports advancement.
“I know there is room to grow and opportunities with Morning Pointe,” Gaines said. “If you apply yourself, you have a chance of moving up with the company.”
Looking ahead, she plans to continue building her skills and expanding her role in healthcare.
“I just wanted to learn more and be able to help our community more,” she said of her decision to pursue her Kentucky Medication Aide certification. “My goal is to keep advancing my education and growing in the healthcare field.”
For those considering a similar path, Gaines offers simple but meaningful advice.
“They should become a CNA first,” she said. “It is the base of all nursing and healthcare.”
Morning Pointe of Lexington Assisted Living offers personalized care, dining, and life enrichment services designed to support seniors in a comfortable, engaging environment, with associates available to provide support and peace of mind for both residents and their families.
About Morning Pointe Senior Living
Founded in 1997 by healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in five southeastern states, including AL, GA, IN, KY & TN. For more information, visit morningpointe.com.
The philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living is the Morning Pointe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to provide clinical scholarships and caregiver support.
