Diana "Di" L. Findley

"She had the vision to improve our profession, and by doing so, has improved us all." -Deb Larson, 2003

Diana "Di" L. Findley, born September 6, 1948 in Ontario, Oregon, now lives in Mitchellville. Findley is a champion for direct care workers. After working as a nursing assistant (CNA) for 13 years, in 1992 Findley saw a need for a professional organization to provide educational opportunities for CNAs. For three years she worked on her own, with no salary to establish the Iowa CareGivers Association, whose vision is to maintain high quality care by offering direct care workers what they want and need - education, support, advocacy, and recognition. While advocating the extraordinary work of CNAs and other direct care workers, she works to involve all stakeholders in health care. She believes that by addressing the needs of care providers, quality care can be improved. Under Findley's directorship, the Iowa CareGivers Association has become a national model. Its recruitment and retention project, worker surveys, and mentor project have also received national attention. To make sure the needs of frontline direct caregivers are always at the forefront of the Iowa CareGivers Association, Findley empowers CNAs to serve on boards and committees…a tireless crusader for direct care workers, most of whom are women, and for quality care. Among her honors are the 1995 Governor's Partners in Aging Award and the Metro Women's Network's Woman of the Year Award in 2001. Findley is a graduate of Drake University and serves on numerous state and national boards, task forces, councils, and committees related to quality jobs and quality care. Findley was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame in 2003.