Ruby is a dedicated health care professional with a background as a scientist, committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care for seniors. She established Cates Family Care Home with the vision of creating a warm, welcoming environment where seniors receive personalized care through the facility’s exceptional care standards and innovative programs. Ruby is a proactive advocate for holistic and person-centered care approaches, who aims to integrate therapeutic activities, mental health support, and family involvement into the daily routines for Seniors at Cates Family Care Home. She holds a Doctorate Degree in Philosophy from Howard University with a concentration in developmental and reproductive biology and completed her postdoctoral training in mammalian genetics from the Jackson Laboratory, Maine. She is currently a scientist involved in the development of antibodies.

Maud is a warm and empathetic healthcare professional with over 8 years of experience as a pharmacist; including 3 years’ experience in the long-term care industry. She is a certified Assisted Living Administrator and Activities Director, with a background in clinical pharmacy. Maud has practiced in different pharmacy settings - long term care, retail, hospital, infusion, pharmacy insurance coverage. She possesses a blend of clinical knowledge and administrative expertise that enables her to effectively oversee daily operations and enhance resident care. In addition to being an Activity Director herself, Maud employs a second Activity Director and 2 Certified Nurse Assistants who are also Med Tech-certified for a 2:3 care ratio for first and second shifts and a 1:3 care ratio for night shift, as part of her team.


Maud transitioned from a clinical pharmacy and clinical research roles to family care home administration to focus on enhancing the quality of life for elderly residents. She holds a Doctorate Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota, a Master’s degree in Business with a concentration in Healthcare Administration from University of Scranton, and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Research from Campbell University.


Maud believes in treating each resident with dignity, respect, and individualized attention. She emphasizes creating a home-like atmosphere where residents feel valued and engaged. With immense knowledge in optimal medication management, crisis management, and her critical attention to detail, her approach involves not just meeting the medical needs of residents, but also fostering emotional well-being and personal fulfillment through tailored activities and community involvement. Maud focuses heavily on medication management to optimally manage residents’ therapeutic regimens, reduce side effects and curb polypharmacy, allowing residents to healthily age in place. As his mentor, Mark Truesdell (Cary Family Care Home) says, “in the right environment, you don’t need behavior modifying medications.”


Community Engagement: Active in the Chapel Hill community, Maud is involved in local senior advocacy groups and frequently volunteers for educational workshops on senior health and wellness at the Seymour Senior Center. She also collaborates with local schools to facilitate intergenerational programs that benefit both residents and the broader community. An example of such intergenerational programs includes volunteer opportunities for kids to play board games such as chess, with residents. Her dedication to improving the lives of residents and her proactive approach to community involvement brings fresh perspectives to her work.

Akua is a certified personal and group fitness trainer through AAAI/ISMA. Fitness is her way of life and it has always been her goal to help others achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.