Employee Spotlight: Carlene Brooks, CNA, A.G. Rhodes Cobb
At 13 years old, Carlene Brooks knew what she wanted to do when she grew up.
“I used to take care of my grandma in Jamaica. I would go to school and run home just to help take care of her until she passed away, and that pushed me forward to being in the nursing field.”
Originally from Jamaica, Carlene moved to the United States and started her CNA career more than 20 years ago in New York and then worked at a facility for 15 years in New Jersy before moving to Georgia to be closer to her mother and sister. She’s been a CNA at A.G. Rhodes Cobb for just over a year.
“It’s my passion to be a CNA,” Carlene said. “I love this profession I’m in, and it also helped me with my mom when she was sick two years ago.”
Carlene’s mom was in a nursing home before she passed away, so Carlene also knows first-hand what it’s like to be a family member of a loved one living in long-term care. She says she assures families that their loved ones are in good hands at A.G. Rhodes.
“I tell them, ‘It’s ok. I understand because I was there.’”
Carlene recognizes that it’s a demanding job, but she looks forward to it each day.
“What keeps me going is the fact that I look at them like they could be my mom or dad. We’re like family.”
Carlene says the greatest satisfaction she gets from her job is knowing that what she does makes an impact and that she is appreciated.
“The best part of my job is to help the elders, to be there for them, take care of them, show them my love. They appreciate me, and I appreciate them, and I’m grateful and I thank them every day for appreciating me.”
When asked what qualities it takes to be a CNA, Carlene said, “You have to be a kind-hearted person. You have to have a lot of patience, and it has to be your passion to do it.”
Carlene also expressed her gratitude for working at A.G. Rhodes.
“It’s a beautiful facility. They treat us very well here. I love it here. In all my time working, A.G. Rhodes is at the top.”
March 2025