Some stories of care begin long before a title, credential, or career path.
For Ashleigh Finn, director of marketing and admissions for Spring Terrace Assisted Living and Sylacauga Health & Rehab, both part of Noland Health Services, the journey began at just four years old when her grandfather took her into nursing homes across Central Alabama. “I did not understand care plans, discharge planning, or the complexity of what happened inside those walls. I simply held his hand and sang gospel songs to residents seated quietly along the hallway,” she recalls.
“I remember how the room would shift when the music began. Something softened. Something connected.”
Those visits left a lasting impression. While she did not realize it at the time, they were laying the foundation for a career dedicated to serving older adults through skilled nursing, assisted living, home health, hospice, and other areas of aging services.
Over the past 16 years, Finn has had the privilege of walking alongside residents and families during some of life’s most meaningful and challenging moments. She has witnessed resilience in the face of loss, quiet courage during difficult circumstances, and enduring love between family members navigating the aging journey together.
Reflecting on those experiences, Finn says, “These were never disconnected chapters. They were layers. They taught me that what happens after the hospital often determines what happens next in someone’s life. They taught me that excellence in care requires more than compassion alone. It requires discipline, structure, trust, and standards that protect the vulnerable. But even with all of that, it still requires heart.”
Finn believes her story also belongs to the teams who carry this work every day—certified nursing assistants, nurses, therapists, social workers, administrators, dietary teams, environmental services, and support staff.
“Care is never the result of one person alone,” she says. “It is the collective commitment of people who show up early, stay late, notice subtle changes, celebrate small victories, and protect dignity in both ordinary and extraordinary moments.”
Finn remains grateful for the generations of elders who helped shape her life and career. She says, “Returning to serve in Sylacauga feels less like a career move and more like alignment. There is something powerful about serving the very generation that helped build the community you call home.”
For Finn, it all began with a hymn in the hallway—and the lessons from those early visits continue to guide her today.
We’re grateful to the facilities who have already shared their stories — keep them coming!
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