Working with older adults is one of the most rewarding parts of being an occupational therapist. It’s also one of the hardest.

When you work closely with someone week after week, they become more than a diagnosis, a plan of care, or a name on your schedule. You learn about their families. You hear stories from decades ago. You learn what makes them laugh, what motivates them, what frustrates them, and what matters most to them.

You celebrate their wins right alongside them. And sometimes, you experience their losses, too.

When I graduated from occupational therapy school, I thought finding my first job would be the hardest part of my career. I was wrong. Leaving it was.

Like many new graduates, I poured everything I had into becoming the best occupational therapist I could be. I celebrated my first patient successes, learned from my mistakes, navigated difficult conversations with families, and slowly built the confidence that only comes with experience. My first job wasn't just where I worked—it was where I grew up professionally.

It's also where The Golden OT was born.