Misty Rahe, a certified nursing assistant, embraces resident Donna Swards before they eat dinner at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center on Sept. 27, 2023, in Sedalia, Mo. “To see their smiles when I do just the smallest thing makes me happy,” Rahe said.

Misty helps resident Jackie Smith walk to the dining room at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center. Misty has been working as a CNA since 2010, and began working at the Center three years ago. “If they [residents] do not have a routine it confuses them and it messes up their whole day,” Rahe said. “If they know what you expect it makes their day easier.”

Misty helps resident David Gaspard in his room at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center. During a shift, Misty is responsible for 44 of the 118 residents at the Center. “It’s the personal time that they let me in to help,” she said. “It’s important that they trust me to do these things.”

Misty comforts resident Donna Swards during dinner at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center. Misty has developed a close relationship with Donna. “It’s like being a little kid again with her,” she said.

Misty sits with resident Donna while they go on a walk in the evening at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center. “It’s one of my favorite things during the night, its like handing her a million dollars,” Misty said.

Misty rides the elevator up to the ground floor of the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center at the beginning of her shift. “It wears me out for one,” Misty said. “I am getting kind of old. I am exhausted almost all the time but I feel like it’s worth it because these people would not have this kind of life if I weren’t here.”

Misty smokes marijuana on the back porch of her apartment building following an evening shift at the Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center. Misty is currently saving up for her dream of building a tiny home with her fiancé, Michael, for their retirement. “It’s the only way I can sleep because I go and go and go all day and its the thing that winds me down so I can do stuff for myself instead of always others,” she said.

Misty, right, helps her mother, Donna Harrison, organize the pills needed to treat her Parkinson’s disease as well as pain from a recent back surgery.

Donna lifts up her feet for her daughter, Misty, to vacuum while she relaxes in her living room chair at her home. With Parkinson’s disease and pain from a recent back surgery, it is hard for Donna to move around.

Misty organizes an array of pills for her mother, Donna, at Donna’s home. “She put her young years into giving me everything she could,” she said. “I feel like I should be able to do the same for her while I can.” 

Donna, left, and her daughter, Misty, smoke a cigarette together outside of Donna's home. This shared routine is frequent for the pair, as it is hard for Donna to venture farther beyond her home due to her health.

While her mother sleeps, Misty catches a break in the living room. Misty slept for only 2 hours the previous night, kept awake by cold symptoms after working until 10 p.m. at Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center.