Rokkell Jones joined us to assist in the growth of the Alzheimer’s Planning Center. Her energetic and selfless focus will be on ensuring the longevity, solace, and connectivity of clients affected by long-term, chronic cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, and MCI.
A North Carolina native, born and raised in Burlington, NC, loved the small town known for its homey feeling and where everyone is family, later attended North Carolina Wesleyan University, majoring in Psychology and Business Administration. Rokkell began her healthcare industry experience as a certified nursing assistant, working mostly with the geriatric population. She later became the Admission Director at a skilled nursing facility, acting as the marketer for a skilled nursing facility.
Rokkell volunteers for organizations like Interact, a program that helps battered women through financial assistance, helping women get back on their feet and into the workforce; and the Susan G. Komen foundation, which helps raise money, awareness, and other resources, to help find a cure for breast cancer. “It gives me a sense of pride to help others. I watched people in my family help out, giving people food from their different gardens for nothing in return. I’ll never forget the smiles they put on people's faces. I was raised by the principle that giving back is where you get your blessings from.”
Part of the reason Rokkell decided to join our team was her personal experience with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Her grandmother was diagnosed with early-onset dementia when she was a kid. Her grandmother inspired her to enter a field in which she could help people suffering from cognitive diseases. Working at a memory care center for 6 years, Rokkell was able to alleviate some of the problems inherently associated with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and MCI. In her new role, she is able to “use [her] healthcare profession in a different spin, educating families on how to approach and prepare family members with cognitive impairment…The motivation is there; people other than healthcare professionals understand the need to help families that are dealing with loved ones that have dementia/Alzheimer’s and are willing to do something that will help support the journey.”
Rokkell just recently married her best friend, Steven, and has three children. Outside of work, Rokkell watches Law & Order SVU, loves visiting vineyards and food tastings, and watches NFL football on Sunday (Go Steelers!).