What is your role at Aging Wisdom? Creative Engagement Specialist
What made you want to work in the field of aging? My grandparents were always a big part of my childhood growing up and I got to spend time with my great-grandparents as well learning about their lives and experiences. I naturally have an affinity for older adults and I feel drawn to support those in vulnerable stages of life.
How has your job changed in the time you’ve worked at Aging Wisdom? We experimented with group projects at various Adult Family Homes, however curated one-on-one visits is the main focus of our work. Many of us on the Creative Engagement team also work on meaningful “Legacy Projects” that can be passed on to the client’s family. For example, I am currently working with a client to create a hard cover book of her paintings and “near and dear” stories she likes to tell about her life experiences.
What do you love about your job? I love to bring music, art, laughter, learning, and creativity into our visits as often as I can. I enjoy being able to focus our time together in creative ways which varies from person to person, however, the goal is always connection, deep listening, and shared positive interactions that enhance the quality of the person’s life in some way.
Tell us about a professional success story that you’re proud of. I had a “break-thru” moment with a client who was living with dementia, anxiety, and depression. She couldn’t recall what we did during our visits, but over time, she knew my presence and began to trust more. One day while visiting, she told me about some of the abuse she experienced as a child and conflicts she has had with her father and husband and how that trauma affected her. She was very soft-spoken and it was difficult to understand her broken sentences and fractures thoughts, but in that moment, I knew I had reached her on a deeper level, and she felt safe to share some of her painful burdens.
What motivates you? Creating! Creating meaningful moments and special memories with people through authentic connection; having fun, being playful, yet responsible, trustworthy, and competent. Sometimes creation comes through tangible things like artwork, writing a song or screenplay, acting, or making an original healthy recipe. I am also motivated by health, longevity, energy, and the power of our minds to affect thought and change any negative patterns into new, more powerful ones.
