Dear Unsealers,

I have 30+ grandparents, isn’t that crazy? To be truthful though, they are mostly all other people’s grandparents that I get to work with for a living. That’s right, my job is to create group activities for a dementia unit in a nursing home and I get the pleasure of working with 30+ elderly individuals every day. When I began working at this job I had no idea the impact it would have on my life. The passion I would almost instantly develop for my (now) dream job, how lucky am I? My go-to hobby has always been fine arts; drawing, painting. I’ve always loved arts and crafts, too! At the nursing home I get to do these things and more, with the patients. I get to mix my favorite things, with my new favorite people! The elderly residents of the nursing home are so precious to me, I have grown such a special bond with each and every one of them which is why it feels like a bunch of bonus-grandparents! I’m so lucky to have a job I adore this much. My husband and father both suffer from different forms of dementia and I learn a lot about the disease at work, to bring home to my family to help guide me through the tough times with them. Nothing can prepare you for dementia with a family member, not even working on a dementia unit; but I feel like I’m where I belong. It has changed my life for the better, for sure. I am a much more patient person than ever before, and I owe it all to the bonus-grandparents I’ve gained at my job.

Love always,
Sherry