At McGregor PACE, compassion isn’t just part of the job, it’s the foundation. And few embody that spirit more fully than Delores Hairston, a dedicated RN and home care nurse who has spent the last decade building meaningful connections with the PACE participants she serves.
In 2024, Delores was named Nurse of the Year, a recognition that reflects not only her clinical skill but the depth of her commitment. Over the years, she has also been honored as Employee of the Month twice, milestones that mark a career defined by heart and trust.
Delores’ has spent ten years with McGregor PACE but her journey in nursing spans 15 years. Before joining PACE, she worked primarily in nursing homes and senior living environments. While those roles shaped her early nursing career, she found something different, something more personal, when she transitioned into home care.
“It’s a rewarding profession,” Hairston says, “especially when you get to work with participants one-on-one.” That one-on-one care is what sets her work apart. In patients’ homes and throughout the community, she’s able to build relationships not just with participants, but with their families as well. “You really get to know them,” she explains. “You become part of their lives.”
Delores recalls that in nursing school she was taught to maintain emotional distance, “But in reality, that boundary isn’t always possible—or even desirable,” says Hairston. “Sometimes you naturally bond with people, especially if they don’t have family, and they just want someone to talk to. So, I’m there.”
Over the past ten years, she has worked with hundreds of seniors across the East and West sides of Cleveland, forming bonds that extend far beyond medical care. For many participants, she is not just a nurse, but a trusted presence, someone who listens, advocates, and shows up.
Her days rarely follow a set plan. “You try to organize your day, but it doesn’t work out like that,” Hairston says with a smile. Instead, her work flows with the needs of her participants: home visits, check-ins, coordinating care, and sometimes simply sitting and talking. “It’s always something,” she adds. “But that’s what makes it meaningful.”
Delores doesn’t limit herself strictly to nursing duties. Whether it’s helping someone access food, arrange for supplies, or connect with the right department, she sees herself as an “all-around person.” She makes it clear to every participant: “No matter what it is, you can call on me.”
That philosophy aligns perfectly with the mission of McGregor PACE, a program designed to support seniors living independently in the community. From medical care and therapy to social connection and daily support, the program provides a comprehensive safety net. “There are so many people who could benefit from this,” Delores says. “We go wherever we’re needed.”
Her work isn’t without challenges. Some of the most difficult moments come during initial home assessments, when she sees firsthand the conditions some seniors are living in. “It can be heartbreaking,” she admits. But those moments also reinforce the importance of the program.
With the support of the PACE team, she helps improve living conditions, connect individuals to resources, and create safer, more stable environments.
That team, she says, is one of the biggest reasons she loves her job. “They’re like a family outside of my family,” she explains. From doctors to nurse practitioners to support staff, everyone works together with a shared purpose. “No matter the department, people are always willing to help.”
For Delores, the move from nursing homes to PACE was transformative. “It was the best move I’ve ever made,” she says. The ability to build lasting relationships and truly make a difference in someone’s life has reaffirmed why she chose nursing in the first place.
Her passion for caring for seniors has been a lifelong calling, but she’s quick to acknowledge the support system that made her career possible, especially her husband, who encouraged her to pursue nursing and helped her stay focused through school. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she says.
Fifteen years into her career, Delores still feels the same sense of purpose that first drew her to the profession. “I just want to be where I’m needed,” she says. “And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
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