Amy Crawford

In My Own Words…

I have always loved spending time with older adults. As a kid I sought seniors out at family parties, adopted neighbors who didn’t have anyone local to spend time with, and offered a hand to strangers within our community. Helping older adults has always been a passion throughout my life.

About ten years ago, I befriended a fabulous 90-year-old woman, Jodie. She was classy and gorgeous and used words like, “Marvelous” and “Darling” in everyday conversation. She challenged and encouraged me to start thinking about the kind of impact I could make in the world. At 92, she wrote one of my letters of recommendation for graduate school, cheered me on as I studied, worked internships, and graduated with my master’s degree in social work, and then asked me, “What’s next!?”. Jodie was always an inspiration.

I am at CBV today because I found this amazing community to be full of positive people, both residents and staff. We are a group who truly celebrate seniors, who not only offer, but insist on respecting our residents while maintaining their dignity in every decision we make. CBV shares the values I grew up with and it is a privilege to work in the home of so many amazing older adults. While my friend Jodie has since passed on, I continue to hear her voice asking me, “What’s next, Darling?”.