Meet Your (New) Driver

When Gigi Gafny retired from his landscaping business, he knew he wasn’t ready to quit working altogether. “I was ready to use my people skills,” says Gigi. When he considered the options, he decided driving was a good fit. He also determined that he wanted to work with seniors. “I applied to several senior communities for driving positions, and I was accepted at all of them. But when I checked the reviews from the residents and staff, they weren’t very good. When I applied to Springwell, though, the reviews were excellent. So that’s where I chose to go.” And after three months on the job—driving individuals to doctors’ appointments and groups to excursions like lunches, museums, and movies—he has no regrets. “Everyone is very nice and I enjoy the work. ”Being 62 years old, Gigi finds he has a lot in common with the residents. “My favorite part is interacting with them. I’m not too far off in age, so I can relate with them.”“Springwell is a big place, and it can be a challenge to remember everyone. But I try hard to at least remember the people I drive, and most of the time I can do that. It’s good exercise for my brain.”If Gigi has some time in between appointments, he likes to explore the Springwell grounds and sit and talk with residents. Afterall, it’s not the driving that brought Gigi to Springwell, it’s interacting with people.“This is more like volunteer work that I get paid for. I really enjoy it.”