Eight months ago, Becky began volunteering with Ageing with Grace at Barrabill House.
Ageing with Grace, a volunteer-led not-for-profit, works to connect older people with communities, driving social inclusion and intergenerational connection.
Becky, who moved to Kilmore from the UK around three years ago, said it was the isolation many older people experienced that pushed her to start volunteering at Barrabill House.
“Social isolation and loneliness is quite a big issue with older people — they’ve lived quite vibrant lives, and then, with the ageing process, they begin to lose their independence,” she said.
“I have that personal experience of loneliness myself, and moving over here and having to make new friends ... I empathise with a lot of these older people, who just want someone to talk to.
“I really do think social connection and personal connection are really important — loneliness is not a very nice thing, and it can impact other areas of your life as well.”
Ageing with Grace facilitates visits between its volunteers and older individuals.
Visits often involve conversations, where the volunteer is just there to listen to endless stories.
Becky said her visits were really just about being there for the person.
“[Visits] can be quite varied,” she said.
“I visit two older ladies, and it depends, if the weather’s nice we might go for a walk around the gardens there, we might sit and have a cup of tea, or even just sit and watch TV.
“It’s all about the willingness to give up your time to be there and be present with someone, and just have a chat and listen.”
The feeling of gratification that Becky has taken away from her experience volunteering at Barrabill House has pushed her down an entirely new pathway.
“It’s been a very eye-opening experience for me — I’ve enjoyed it so much that I’ve actually left my job and am pursuing a career in aged care,” she said.
“The ladies that I visit, they’ve led such incredible lives and done incredible things, it’s really inspiring to hear the stories, and it’s totally changed my perspective on life.
“It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve done.”
To learn more about volunteering with Ageing with Grace, visit ageingwithgrace.org.au/
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