Chante was born and raised In St. Martinville, Louisiana. From cooking to decorating, Chante and her sister grew up helping their mother with all the preparations for events at their local event hall. Of the experience, she says, "Before creating a single special event that cost thousands of dollars, family and friends got together and pitched in to create magical memories." Because she was a kid, she wasn't paid, but she learned to remain humble and grateful through the process. This was the beginning of her passion for coordinating programs: helping her mother.
Chante later went to school in Early Education, but it wasn’t until she found herself taking care of the elderly as a CNA that she discovered the need to do more. Planning person-centered activities was something she has always done through her daily routine as a CNA. When a Dementia Program Coordinator position opened at her previous job, she found herself in taking over that position. The role was "honestly meant for me," she says. "That road brought me in many different directions, and finally where I am today."
Dementia is something that she has firsthand experience with, as both her grandmothers were diagnosed. She sees them every day in our residents, and it is her love and her passion that push her to strive to make every program purposeful.
Chante wants our families to feel at ease knowing we have their family members’ best interests in mind, so she helps handpick various activities to engage residents and promote mobility, cognitive thinking, and overall well-being.
Here are a few activities she makes sure to incorporate monthly:
- Monthly Support Groups for Families
- Pet Therapy
- Chef Showcase Demonstrations
- Weekly Lunch Bunch Outings
- Communion with St. Pius
Additionally, Chante and the memory care team hold morning reads to debrief current events, to ensure residents are up to date with local, national, and global news. Chante is great at staying on top of different Holidays and special events, to make sure they are celebrated in true Blake fashion. She loves how everyone gets excited for them and how they always create special memories for residents and their families.
Every month Chante and the Memory Care team create different programs and activities to help residents find fulfillment in each and every day. Chante is a true asset to The Blake family and has been an amazing addition to our Memory Care neighborhood here at The Blake at Lafayette.
