I have always had a love for seniors
and started volunteering at a local care home after school when I was 14 years old. I would spend hours chatting with the residents and soaking up their life experiences, memories, and wisdom.
I also loved taking some special time to make the ladies feel glamorous and would brush, and style their hair, apply their make-up, or paint their fingernails the colour of their choice. Simple things that we often take for granted make a huge difference to our moods and how we perceive the world and ourselves. I know the one thing that has never changed for me is how much better I feel after my hair has been done, or I have a fresh manicure and pedicure. Just seeing a pretty colour on my toes or fingers can help change a dull day into a sunny one.
When I graduated from University, my first job was as an Activities Coordinator and Social Worker at the very same care home I volunteered at as a teenager. I had a Welsh Corgi named Foxy and was fortunate enough to be able to bring her to work with me. Foxy became the care home ambassador and therapy dog and could be seen walking the hallways looking for residents who would shower her with love. During mealtimes when I would help pass out food and feed residents, she had a special knack of knowing where to position herself to “help” during clean-up!
