Meet Telli: Compassion, Connection, Care
Written by Kaira B., in collaboration with the Communications team
Circle of Care’s Adult Day Program (ADP) supports adults with memory loss or physical frailty in a safe, caring environment where they can socialize and find joy and meaning in their day. The program offers a wide range of engaging therapeutic, cognitive, creative, and physical activities while also providing caregivers with trusted respite.
The program is run by dedicated Circle of Care staff and volunteers, including Telli T., who was drawn to Circle of Care’s core values of dignity and respect. The alignment between Telli’s own focus on spreading kindness and the kindness she saw in the Adult Day Program staff helped her feel confident that volunteering with Circle of Care would be a great fit.
Telli is a trained nurse and is currently preparing to take her nursing certification exams in Canada. Volunteering at Circle of Care allows her to continue helping others, to become acclimatized to Canadian culture and to practice her English. She has been working at the Adult Day Program weekly for over a year and looks forward to every day that she spends there.
From Isolation to Happy Engagement
Telli began by offering facials to clients and their caregivers, and over time, her role expanded to supporting all aspects of the program, from serving breakfast to creative projects. Telli’s favourite part is encouraging everyone to participate.
Sometimes language barriers or physical limitations make clients feel they cannot join the activities or form connections with others. Telli has a remarkable ability to quickly convince them otherwise.
When clients sit quietly on the sidelines, appearing shy or hesitant, Telli gently steps in. “I encourage them to believe in themselves,” she says.
She sits down with them, makes conversation, listens to them carefully, makes eye contact, holds their hands, offers water – anything that will make them more comfortable and at ease.
Often within minutes, their mood turns around – they feel happy and engaged. Before long, their cheer spreads and suddenly a whole group of clients are chatting together. Telli is delighted when this happens; through her time at Circle of Care, Telli has come to deeply appreciate the importance of community for seniors.
Telli also commends the teamwork between the staff and volunteers. “I’m moved when I see the ADP team, how they work with their hearts. I feel moved and encouraged to do my best.”
When clients are uncomfortable despite her efforts, Telli collaborates with ADP staff, who offer additional approaches, such as going outside with them for a change of scenery or checking if they took their medication.
Guided by Core Values
What drew Telli to a career in nursing, and what drew her to volunteer at Circle of Care, is living her core values, beautifully reflected in her favourite poem. “This poem reflects the values of compassion, connection, and care for one another, which strongly guide how I support clients in my volunteer role,” says Telli.
All human beings are part of one body,
Created from the same essence and soul.
If one member suffers or is in pain,
The rest cannot find true peace or comfort.
— Saadi Shirazi, 13th century (translation from Persian)
A Changed Outlook
Once, a client confided in Telli. She shared that she felt useless and like a bother to her two children. Telli listened attentively and gently responded, “Don’t say that you’re useless. You have a lot of unique experience. You are special and younger people can learn a lot from you. I learned a lot from you from talking to you.”
Two weeks later, when Telli saw the same woman again, she was greeted with a smile and a new perspective that stuck: “I can help younger folks because I have my own special experience I can share with them,” the client said.
Advice to New and Future Volunteers
To new volunteers, Telli says, “Don’t worry about having a lot of knowledge. Small acts can make a big difference.” She encourages others to volunteer at the Circle of Care to witness the powerful impact of sincere attention and care.
In a time when social isolation among seniors is incredibly common, volunteers like Telli offer something deeply human and irreplaceable: connection. Their time, attention, and compassion can significantly improve quality of life, reminding seniors that they are not forgotten and that they still matter. Small acts of service, repeated consistently, can help turn isolation into inclusion and loneliness into community.
For newcomers to Canada, volunteering also offers an opportunity to learn about Canadian culture and customs, to practice conversational English, – and have a lot of fun along the way.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Circle of Care, please visit https://circleofcare.com/volunteer/.
