We recently connected with Jacqueline Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jacqueline thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

This time around when I was selected to be a student in the RN program, I made a pact with myself and God. I stated that unless I was in critical condition, I was going to finish nursing school. Even if it took everything that I had. I made up my mind that it would have to be a life or death situation for me not to finish. In December 2022, I experienced a car wreck that was almost just that. Two weeks before finals, I could not look at my computer screen without getting a headache, I could not study, I could barely walk, and I was in excruciating pain. My instructor said I could wait until the next semester to take my finals, people told me to not test, and just to drop out so that I could focus on healing. I knew that my God was bigger than any problem I could ever face, so I stayed the course.

I knew that I had to trust God for everything, and doubt him for absolutely nothing. I cried, I prayed, I asked God why me, and then I reverted back to the fact that I am heavily rooted and grounded in his word. I started to quote bible verses that I had hidden in my heart such as, “he will never put more on me that I could bear, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, no weapon formed against me shall prosper, I will fear no evil for thou art with me, and greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. “

This was a personal journey for me, and I remembered when I started the promise that I made to myself. I trusted God and prevailed.

That moment was almost a breaking point for me, because that was my second wreck in a year and a half, and this was my 4th attempt at becoming a registered nurse. I had to make a decision to press forward! I’m glad that I trusted God, because you will always get the victory if you trust God.

Jacqueline , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Jacqueline Smith lives in San Antonio, Texas and is the mother of 3 wonderful sons. She is the CEO of Enchanted Hearts Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association which was formed in 2016 after her grandmother passed away with Alzheimer’s. She has an extensive background in the medical field with over 25 years of experience. In addition to being a Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer, Certified Dementia Care Specialist, Certified Online Training Professional, and Dementia Care Specialist, she also has an extensive background in nursing. She’s a special needs pediatric and geriatric registered nurse with over 16 years of experience.

In 2016, her grandmother passed away with Alzheimer’s. Although Mrs. Smith was a nurse at the time with an extensive background in nursing, she had never had an encounter with Alzheimer’s. “The doctors, and medical staff were trying to make a fortune from surgeries before my grandmother passed. Things could not be explained very thoroughly, and some of the nursing staff did not know how to interact with my grandmother. I founded Enchanted Hearts Alzheimer and Dementia Association to become an advocate for those on the same journey without an extensive medical background. “

She teaches Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care seminars, in- services for medical professionals, host memory, care, support, groups, host activities on the go for seniors, in person activities and exercises for seniors, teaches CPR classes, and host an Annual Passionate About Purple Gala in honor of her grandmother. This year‘s gala will take place in October.

Enchanted Hearts, Alzheimer and dementia and association chains memory care, professionals, and caregivers how to interact with individuals with Alzheimer’s, how to understand their behaviors, the disease, and offer trainings on end-of-life care. The disease can be painful, but caring for your love can be a little easier if you are properly educated.

“I am set apart from others, because this journey is personal for me. When I am caring for my clients, I am able to relate to their tragedy and heartbreak. I operate out of passion and purpose. My goal is to increase knowledge, and open the hearts of family members for a greater understanding of the disease so that families don’t take the hurt so personal.” In the majority of the cases, their loved one would not be behaving in this manner if it were not for the disease.”

I am most proud that I get to carry my grandmothers legacy on forever. I am able to take her situation, and touch the lives of thousands of others. Losing my grandmother will changed the lives of so many. Every time I assist someone, I know it puts a smile on her face in heaven.

I want people to know that when they reach out to me for help, they become family. I treat everyone as if their love one was my grandmother. You have to have a heart full of love, and kindness to work in this industry. I have been doing it for over 25 years. You can’t put a price on love, and that is the beauty of it. You have to want to make a difference from within. I strive to be the change that I want to see.

Ms. Smith is also the CEO of Charlie’s Home for Vets, and The Jacqueline Smith Foundation, which are organizations that assist active-duty military, veterans, homeless veterans, and underserved communities with housing, food, clothing, and hygiene items. They also provide community education courses such as financial literacy courses, mental health outreach, navigation of veteran’s resources classes, free haircuts, and free headshots.
Mrs. Smith has trained hundreds of memory care professionals, and nurses throughout the course of her career. She specializes in training memory care professionals, and caregivers on how to provide person-centered care to individuals with Alzheimer’s/dementia.

She recently graduated from Wayland Baptist University receiving a Bachelors of Applied Science with a major in

Business Administration, and a minor in Healthcare Administration. She also graduated recently graduated from Coastal Bend College receiving Associates of Applied Science degree as a registered nurse. She holds a paralegal degree, 2 Associates of Applied Science degrees,

She has been featured on the cover of SA Monthly Magazine in their Women in Business Series. She was a 2020 and 2023 Black History Honoree, and appeared on Great Day SA for her community initiatives for veterans. Jacqueline was also interviewed by News 4 for her free headshots for veterans’ program. She was recently nominated for the Texas Veteran’s Commission Extra Mile Award, received The Distinguished Citizen Award by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. She believes that education is the key to being successful and competent in one’s career, along with hard work and dedication.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I previously just graduated from RN School, but this was not my first attempt. Years ago when my grandmother and grandfather were both sick at the same time, I was in nursing school. I was making a 4 hour drive home every weekend to see my grandparents, and assist with their caregiving. I was answering questions with my mom over the phone, talking to doctors, and watching my grandmother regress. My grandmother, and my grandfather passed away a month apart. The pain was unfathomable, and unfortunately I had to drop out of nursing school. I hung on as long as I could, but my body drew weary. I had to make a decision. I decided that nursing school was too much, and that I would pursue it later if God gave me the opportunity.

We don’t always get to choose the path that we travel during life. Sometimes God throws out a roadblock, and we have to make a detour. At this point in my life, I had to put aside something that was of the upmost importance to me, and take care of my responsibilities as a granddaughter, and someone in a medical field, who could provide advice when the circumstances deemed. Losing both grandparents a month apart was very tough emotionally, and mentally. I had to deviate from my current plan to get my head back in the game.

Once I was able to regain control over my thoughts and my actions, I founded my business. My business was birthed out of my pain, and sorrow. I wanted to prevent people from feeling the way that I felt, which was helpless and hopeless at some points. Often times businesses and solutions are created when we experience the problem. This was the exact circumstances. I wanted to provide a solution to this gigantic problem in the healthcare field.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

In the field of nursing and taking care of Alzheimer’s patients, you have to have a pure heart. You have to have something within you that a textbook cannot teach, which is love, empathy, and sympathy. You can not work in this field for the money. You must love what you do! You have to have grit, and tough skin. You will be ridiculed, cursed at, assaulted, and belittled, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

You’re not afforded the opportunity to wear your feelings on your sleeve, because 30 minutes after you experience a tragedy your patient/ loved one may no longer remember it . This is not a field for the weak, or faint at heart. It often goes home with you, creates problems in your marriage, your home, with you personally, and sometimes the caregiver goes down before the patient because the journey is so weary.

It is also a privilege to work in this field, because you get to make a difference in the lives of those that entrust their love one in your care. You get to educate and make a difference in the way that they provide care, and perceive what is going on with their love one. It is a very rewarding position to those who do it out of the love that they possess in their heart.

Contact Info:

• Website: Eheartsada.org
• Instagram: Enchantedhearts
• Facebook: Enchanted Hearts Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association