Student Profile: Leslie Bresser

We want to congratulate two of our PBD students (Leslie Bresser and Shaun Leong) who were successful applicants from SFU for BCCPA’s (BC Care Providers Association) “40 for 40” bursary program. We caught up with Leslie Bresser, read below as she reflects on her journey to pursuing a career in gerontology.

I am so grateful to be one of the lucky recipients of the “40 for 40” bursary program, which is allowing me to attend the May, BCCPA 2018 Annual Conference, in beautiful Whistler BC.

I am a full-time student at Simon Fraser University’s Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Gerontology. My interest in working with seniors started in 2011 as I worked as a casual Activity Aide at a Complex Residential Care Facility in Smithers, BC. I then worked as a Youth /Adult Mental Health and Addictions Clinician for a few years and senior citizens were gradually introduced into my caseload. I loved the work and relationships that it fostered. I felt that I needed more knowledge and training in this area to best serve my clients. This is when the SFU’s program caught my attention. At that time I was also caring for my aging 85-year-old father, a widower, who was overwhelmed with multiple physical and mental health issues. He just recently transferred to Assisted Living. His transition into Assisted Living was smooth; however, that is not the case for many seniors who end up in Acute Care or waiting for a placement while staying in the hospital. 

My goal is to further educate myself in Gerontology and serve as a knowledgeable asset towards the necessary shift that our culture needs to make, if we are to accommodate our aging demographics.

I find always found developmental psychology fascinating. I spent my first six years of my career working in prenatal health with high risk parents from a prevention standpoint. I then shifted to working in trauma and addictions for 16 years, with youth and adults, from a more reactive stance. I am now wanting learn and explore the last phase of our lifespan through my studies and work within Gerontology. 

Once I complete my program, my goal is to continue to work as a social worker in this field or as a Health Administrator. I feel it will be much less stressful than working in acute trauma and addictions, as the prognosis of my clients will be better, as the system helps provide their social determinants of health in a safe facility. The change may very well increase my longevity by improving my own quality of life.

I love painting, as it brings to light what is within my Self. I recently painted a beautiful rose bush with one rose fully blossomed and a rose bud beside it. I think the opened rose represents my life’s work to date and the bud represents what is to come within this new scope of practice. It will be equally as beautiful! My future goal is to work as an Art Therapist who will work primarily with seniors.

As part of my work I would like to expose youth to the idea of getting comfortable with seniors; this will happen within a secondary school setting. I think this interaction would help combat ageism. As youth interact with the elderly it will dispel many of the myths about aging; the gift will be that the youth will then share their experiences with their peers.

I know in my heart that serving seniors is part of my life purpose; I find working with senior deeply spiritual and rewarding. They have so much to offer that is often overlooked due to stereo-typing. As for now, I am focusing on the learning that comes from my studies with this salient program. My future will be revealed in time.