Strength in connectedness with older adults
Par Family Councils Ontario
By Natacha Dupuis, FCO Bilingual Outreach Coordinator
I was raised to have the upmost respect for older adults. Since a young age I was fascinated by the knowledge and experience that seniors can provide me. I remember waiting anxiously every week for a new episode of the Golden Girls. I remember thinking to myself that being “Old” didn’t mean you couldn’t laugh and have fun. My favorite character was Sophia Petrillo- she was always up to something sneaky- and Dorothy, Blanche and Rose would always get upset. Yet they always went to her for advice; advice because she had lived and had the experience.
At the age of 11 I asked my parents if I could volunteer at the LTC home in Ajax. Every Sunday I would go and call the bingo for a crowd of approximately 20. I have so many found memories of the residents telling me their stories of their childhood. Since that young age I wanted to work with that population.
Once I graduated from College Boreal as a Social Services Worker I went straight into the senior population. Working in retirement homes then followed by 9 years of Working with Osteoporosis Canada followed by a year at the Alzheimer Society of Sudbury and Manitoulin Island.
After a few years of working in the community I realized how important it is to be an advocate for people who may not be able to advocate for themselves. Speaking to city council members as well as MPP on how we can make remote communities more accessible to services and seniors.
In 2018 I decided to change my work experience and was looking for something that really spoke to me. Once I decided on this change I noticed a posting for Outreach Coordinator for FCO. Everything in the job description spoke to me. I thought to myself “this is for me!”
I get to work with families and loved ones of residents across the North who have taught me so much already. Their passion and devotion inspire me to work even hard for and with them. Society often takes older adults for granted, however not everyone understand that without these older adults we wouldn’t have the history that we do. We would not be where we are today without them.
I look forward to grow every day with more knowledge that will be passed down to me from so many knowledgeable intelligent families in these great communities.
- Natacha