Winsome Bent, Hall of Honor

Editor’s Note: The McKnight’s Long-Term Care NewsDaily Update and McKnight’s Senior Living Daily Briefing e-newsletters are profiling each of the McKnight’s 2019 Women of Distinction in July. For more coverage, visit the McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Senior Living websites and read the July print edition of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and August print edition of McKnight’s Senior Living.

Almost 30 years ago, Winsome Bent emigrated from Jamaica, seeking a better life for herself and her son. She attended school to become a certified nursing assistant while working as a nanny; later, she began her nursing degree while working as a CNA at a nursing home.

After becoming a resident service assistant at an assisted living facility run by Atria Senior Living, she was promoted within a year to become the community’s wellness director and was responsible for overseeing 24 employees. She completed her associate’s degree in nursing at Nassau Community College and then began work as a registered nurse at Winthrop University Hospital in 2003.

By 2005, she had moved to The Bristal Assisted Living at North Hills, where she was promoted to executive director. In 2014, she became a regional director for The Bristal Assisted Living.

Winsome Bent receiving Hall of Honor award
Winsome Bent with McKnight’s Long-Term Care Deputy Editor Elizabeth Newman

During her career, Bent has believed in mentoring youth and those who want to pursue education. A single mother, she said she wanted to set an example for her son through a strong work ethic. Today, he is a dentist with his own practice. Bent also is the primary provider for her brother, along with two nieces and a nephew who emigrated to the United States three years ago.

McKnight’s Women of Distinction is a joint program of McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program’s exclusive Platinum sponsor is PointClickCare.