Mia Larson: Fulfilling Her Dream of a Career in Healthcare 

Since she was a kid, Mia Larson always wanted to work in healthcare. She completed her CNA training at Kent Career Technical Center while still a high school student. As part of the program, Mia says, “There was a mock practice interview with Porter Hills Village. Then I got a real interview. I started working there right out of high school.”

Today, Mia is a Shahbaz in Brio Living Services’s Green House® Homes in Grand Rapids. Considered the “gold standard” for long-term skilled nursing care, the Green House Homes utilizes the Household Model of person-centered care for its residents. In the Green House Homes, a Shahbaz takes care of everything related to providing for an elder and running the household. Mia says her favorite thing about her job is “working with a good team and being able to help people and brighten their day. It’s like working with a big family. Everyone takes care of each other.”

Thanks to a Scholarship from the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation’s Team Member Support Services Fund, Mia is now pursuing her R.N. degree. “I am grateful for my scholarship,” says Mia. “Financially, it’s really helping and taking a lot of stress off going to school, and it shows our organization cares about its team members. It helps that I can work, and it motivates me more to continue my education.”

“Mia is an informal leader, and she uses that gift to support the team,” says Trisha Watkins, Nursing Home Administrator and Guide for Porter Hills Village Health Center and the Green House Homes. “She shows great care and compassion for our elders and engages with them beautifully.” One example is when Mia fulfilled a “bucket list” item for one of her residents who had always wanted to try oysters. “This meant a lot to the elder and those around her.”

While not always easy, Mia says working with older adults “is definitely rewarding. You’ll learn so much from working with them, and they’re very caring. You really feel appreciated.”

Learn more about a Career You’ll Love at Brio Living Services!