356. An App for Mindfulness in Caregiving

“I started working at a nursing home at age 16 while I was in high school. I feel like it changed my life. It helped me find my purpose at a very young age.”

“The first major turning point for me was at 18. I was in a car accident. I was rear-ended by a dump truck that was loaded with landscaping rocks. He was going at about 55 miles per hour. I walked away from the car accident, but I had fractured all of my cervical vertebrae. For the following two years, during my undergraduate years at Indiana University, I was learning to walk again, rehabilitating my spine. That really put into perspective for me what it’s like to be an aging person. Academically, I took a strong turn from computer science, urban planning and development. I started thinking more critically about my own purpose. I asked myself, how I could serve my community in the best way? The following year, after graduating, I began working in senior care full time.”

“At 21 years old I think I really needed the guidance I received from the seniors, especially their ability to listen. I see many young people today constantly on their phones. They’re not really listening to each other. It’s a very different experience connecting with a senior. When you put the two generations together, one-to-one, I think magic can really happen. The opportunity to work with so many beautiful senior women who are full of wisdom makes the process very rewarding.”

1. Extend yourself to reach across generations.

2. Slow down enough to listen and develop compassion and empathy.

3. Recognize what you and your generation have to give.

4. Cultivate your soft skills. Learn mindfulness practices, breathing and meditation.