Compassionate Heidi spreads joy among elderly
Having never worked with the elderly before taking up her position at the centre in 2018, Heidi said that the opportunity came as an unexpected blessing that opened the door to her passion.
LET’S take a second to commend all the people who work tirelessly to care of the elderly every day. The happiness and love these caregivers bring to the lives of the elderly cannot be overstated. But it’s not just special for the seniors who receive the care that they need, but it is just as special for the caregivers in a big way too. One such caregiver is The Association for the Aged’s (Tafta) Heidi Naidoo, wellness coordinator at the Tafta Primrose Centre in Wentworth.
Having never worked with the elderly before taking up her position at the centre in 2018, Heidi said that the opportunity came as an unexpected blessing that opened the door to her passion. “Growing up, I was always quite involved in the community from projects to concerts. I didn’t look for this job specifically, but I had hit tough times for a few years and one morning I was encouraged to send my CV through for the wellness coordinator position and I got the job. It took me about a week to adjust from my previous line of work in bookkeeping, but after that I felt right at home. Landing this job was an absolute blessing. When I work with old people and see the happiness on their faces after helping them, it lights up my day. I truly enjoy what I do,” she said.
There is never a dull moment whenever Heidi is around. She works tirelessly to ensure that the elders at the centre stay feeling as young as ever. With her wellness programmes and social events, the oldies always have something to look forward to. She is responsible for organising and managing the various projects, events and fundraising initiatives at the Primrose Centre, while lending a helping hand wherever it is needed.
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“Many of our members come from problematic homes and some of the things they experience are terrible. My hope for the elderly is what gets me up each morning, and that is a hope for a safe and better life for all of them in the community. The centre has become known for having wonderful and exciting activities that bring joy and laughter to our elders as well as the members of our community. We try to prevent the neglect and isolation of old people by offering activities held at Primrose which include dancing, music, sports and recreation.”
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Tafta home based carer, Paula Campbell who also works at the Primrose Wellness Centre shared that ever since she was a little girl, it was always her dream to help people. “I enjoy the work I do and have been caring for the elderly for 30 years. Old people are my passion, especially in this community because many of them are abused and neglected. This makes being a home based carer so relevant and necessary,” she shared.
“We constantly encourage all senior citizens of the community to join Primrose, where we live, love, dance and sing. Everyday we encourage and inspire the elderly of the community to continue to live fulfilling lives by sourcing new, exciting and safe activities that they can enjoy all year round,” said Heidi.
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