Welcome to My World, Welcome to My First Blog Post Eugene-Springfield, Oregon

What are my life’s dreams?

“What do you want to be when you grow up” is a question that never crossed my mind as a child. If anything, I knew from a very young age that it would involve working with people. And true to the genes passed to me by my grandmother from one side of my family and my dad on the other side, I also knew I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.

This is me at “my best” of “let me tell you ….”

Who was my inspiration?

Growing up I was a swimmer and an athlete, and when I was accepted to Physical Therapy school I had the full intention of working with athletes. Imagine how disappointed I was when I discovered, while doing my schooling rotation in an outpatient orthopedic clinic, that working with athletes was the least exciting area of specialty for me. For a moment I felt my dream was crushed as I wasn’t sure what path my physical therapy career would take.”

This revelation was followed by another unexpected revelation that came to me while doing my rotation in a big, inpatient rehabilitation hospital. I found my calling working with older patients, many who suffered neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, stroke, head injury or spinal cord injury.

Looking back, I know that this love for working with aging adults is something I foster through the unique relationship I had with my grandparents.
My grandma was known for her wisdom, sense of humor, love for her family and her strong opinions. My grandfather was the quiet one who knew how to have fun. It was a home where the family got together over many weekends and holidays and where I visited by myself at every opportunity.

My grandma Genia and Grandpa Lonia who immigrated to Israel from Russia

How did I make my dreams come true?

My life’s journey took me all the way from growing up in a kibbutz in Israel to the university town of Eugene Oregon and through many twists and turns over the years.

My professional life developed into a career with moments of excitement and fulfillment as I was able to have a positive impact on my patients

Maria was a patient I will never forget. At the young age of thirty-five, Maria suffered a devastating stroke that left her completely paralyzed on her right and dominant side. One morning she came to her physical therapy session with me looking like she had not slept much the night before. “I ran all night long last night,” Maria told me, “and I’m exhausted”. Mind you, at that time Maria needed a lot of help just to get out of bed to transfer into her wheelchair. She couldn’t even stand unsupported by herself. “In my dream,” she responded when I gave her a surprised look, “In my dream, I ran all night and woke up exhausted”.
“Well,” I responded “together, we can make your dream come true”. It was team- work between my expertise and Maria’s hard work. She got stronger and regained her mobility.

When Maria left the inpatient rehab to go back home, she walked out the door by herself with only the support of a cane. She promised that one day she will run and I had no doubt she will.

It is people like Maria who helped me achieve my dream of making a difference in people lives.

Is there more beyond those dreams?

My first job as a physical therapist was in a nursing home in Israel right after my graduation in 1987. Back in the late 80’s, nursing home was a euphemism to ‘the smell of urine and Lysol’. Three weeks into my work there I make a promise to myself that “one day I will have my own nursing home and it will be a place of quality care in a pleasant setting”. I gained valuable knowledge and expertise through my work as a Physical Therapist in the inpatient acute hospital care, inpatient rehabilitation and home health over a 23-year span. It was time to make another dream come true.

In 2010 I opened my first Adult Foster Home and following its success, in 2012 my second one. It was a “miniature” nursing home where I helped take care of five residents in each home, offering the best care one can ask for their love ones in a very pleasant, home-like setting.

Residents of my Adult Foster Home and their families celebrating 4th of July

Wait, I have more dreams

I was never one to stop dreaming, knowing there is more than one way of making a difference in people’s lives.

Owning and managing the adult foster homes for six years taught me a lot about what care facilities can, and should, provide to their residents. I also learned about the challenges that many times stand in the way: obstacles such as rules and regulations, finances and caregivers turnover. It was time to move on, find other ways to apply the knowledge gained to help more people.

And this is how a new dream simply fell into my lap; helping those who are under the utmost stress when needing to find, for themselves or a loved one, a care facility to move to from home.

The journey I started in 2016 was one that allowed me to take the experience from my professional and personal life and put it all together to good use. Understanding the geriatric population, family dynamic, medical and health care and senior care facilities as well as what stress can do to your life, are some of the many tools I now carry in my tool box. This tool box is with me whenever I meet with people seeking my help and support: People who are stressed by the overwhelming task of finding the right senior care facility to fit best as the new home for themselves or for a loved one.

Join this journey

From childhood to adulthood, from single to a family, from a student to holding a job, Life’s twists and turns, with natural aging or unexpected events, take us through planned or unplanned journeys.

You never know where the next journey will take you

Becoming a caregiver for an aging parent or spouse is one journey many of us are not prepared for. Needing to help a parent or a spouse move from home to a senior care facility is another journey.

Through this blog, I offer to share with you everything I’ve learned; from my patients, their families, my co-workers and other professionals as well as the education I received from many classes. Every time I think “I have seen it all”, I realize that there is something new I just learned. And this is what I want to share with you. It will allow you navigate through your own personal journey and will remind you that you are not alone.

I invite you to come along and join others already on this journey while I share what I’ve learned through this blog and apply my life purpose in helping people in times of stress and need.

Feedback and comments are welcomed, and if my posts might help friends and family, please share.