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My passion for the Golden Population began during my teenage years, while working as an Activities Assistant in a nursing home. Part of my job was to provide one-one visits with residents who did not attend group activities. One of these residents was a  95 year old from Austria, who had lost most of her vision. She was often described as “difficult,” because she did not like visitors, and she was reluctant to receive assistance with her daily activities. Our initial visits were brief, but she quickly became comfortable with me. She shared many stories about living in Austria during World War II, and I quickly discovered that her experiences during the war contributed to her reluctance to visitors and accepting help from staff. During our visits, I would teach her simple Spanish phrases while she taught me basic German. These visits provided her with a sense of connection and stimulation that she was not receiving beforehand. As a result, she gradually began allowing other staff to help her, and even began attending activities with other residents. It is through this experience, and similar moments, that shaped my desire to pursue a career field in Speech Language Pathology. 

 

Throughout my 15 year career, I have worked across multiple settings, including acute care, post acute rehab, outpatient rehab and long term care.  My experience includes cognitive, communication, and swallow disorders resulting from a variety of medical conditions, including stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI)  and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, and dementia. I have directly observed the detrimental impact that not only a neurological condition but also social isolation may have on an individual’s quality of life. I have seen individuals rapidly lose their ability to talk, walk, and feed themselves because they were left in their rooms alone, often with limited lighting, no TV, and little communication with others. I have also seen the resilience and return of some these skills, once these individuals are able to return to an environment where they are around other people and have the opportunity to engage in meaningful interactions. There are so many individuals in our community who have lost the ability, or have limited opportunities, for social engagement and cognitive stimulation. Hence, the formation of Golchi Golden Hour, where I bring the cognitive stimulation and social connection to you! My purpose is serve as your cognitive companion and coach, helping you to improve or preserve function, and support you in maintaining your highest quality of life.