Community Conversations: Q&A With Board Member Lynn Paxson

Lynn Paxson is Owner and a Senior Living Advisor with Oasis Senior Advisors and a member of our Lori’s Hands Board of Directors. She recently sat down with us to talk about her passion for supporting older people and their families and her vision for our future as an organization.

LH: Lynn, you’ve been active in the older adult services world in Delaware for some time. How did first you get involved in Lori’s Hands?

Lynn: I think it was shortly after Maggie joined Lori’s Hands. She gradually pulled me in. It was her sharing about the organization that got me interested. I was intrigued. I loved the idea of college students and chronically ill community members, who are often older adults, giving something to each other.

LH: Your professional life focuses on supporting older adults and family caregivers. Can you tell us a little bit about what you do “in your day job”?

Lynn: I would love to but be careful – I could talk about it all day! I have a ton of stories of the most amazing families, but that is for another time. I am the owner of Oasis Senior Advisors Delaware. We have been around for five years. We help guide families through living options for older loved ones who are finding day to day things to be more challenging. We simplify the process and tailor the options to what is the best fit for them. What that really means is we get to assist people in their journey as they age and help them with strategies to maintain their independence as long as possible and with making plans when that is no longer possible. We meet with families to get to know them and determine their needs so we can make recommendations on best fit. The families are my favorite part of this business. They keep me on my toes and keep my heart full.

LH: Why are you drawn to the work that you do through Lori’s Hands and Oasis? Why do you see it as so important? 

Lynn: That’s easy. My husband, Mike, and I were helping my mother in law and to say it was eye opening is an understatement. While there are many well-meaning people out there, there was no one to help us. Some people offered advice in an effort to help but it turned out to be bad information because older adult services wasn’t their area of expertise. Actually, it was no one’s area of expertise. As someone who was trying their best to make good choices on behalf of a loved one, receiving bad information was worse than if we had received none. Everyone had their own piece of the puzzle but no one could really put all the pieces together. We learned aging is complicated and so are the systems around it. And now that I have Oasis Senior Advisors I understand why: it’s hard. Every single family is like a different puzzle. And someone needs to help these families. While the core of our business is working with families and matching them to assisted living and memory care, we help families with just about everything. And we are not scared by hard.

Lori’s Hands was founded to help people living with chronic illness, who are often older, maintain independence. Lori’s Hands is one of the pieces in the puzzle of assisting our community members and older loved ones to age gracefully. That’s is what led me to start Oasis Senior Advisors Delaware. I love helping help people transition from home to senior living. However, my mission is to help guide families in making decisions that will help their loved one remain as independent as long as possible and limit or prevent the need for nursing homes. So much of this aligns with our mission at Lori’s Hands. I see my day job and Lori’s Hands as complimentary avenues to assist families in our communities. The need for services like these just continues to grow as our population is aging.

LH: What are one or two of your favorite specific memories from being involved with Lori’s Hands?

Lynn: One of my favorite memories is from before I was even involved in an official capacity.

A friend dealing with MS felt so alone and lacking in purpose, and finances were a concern. I asked her if I could have Maggie from Lori’s Hands call her. After they talked, she called me in tears. She was grateful to have an opportunity to be part of something that helped someone else — the students. After each visit she felt like she mattered and she hadn’t felt that way in a long time.

The Annual Gala is another special experience. Not because of the dinner or the music. What makes it special is the opportunity to hear from students first-hand about what they get out of their experience with Lori’s Hands. For these young bright students who chose to volunteer, it has changed them and they believe they are better for it. When you think about the rest of their lives and the people they will touch, this seemingly simple volunteer experience made it possible for them to take their experience forward impacting people’s lives for so many years to come.

LH: What is your role with the organization today? What does your involvement entail? 

Lynn: I am board member. I also lead a committee that is dealing the governance structure of Lori’s Hands.  As a board member I contribute to Lori’s Hands by providing governance and oversight. Even more exciting is the strategy and guidance around chapter expansion. We are working to be sure we have everything in place to continue to be successful as we grow. This includes a sound governance structure which describes how everyone works together in their various roles. We are also working to make sure that resources are utilized wisely as we grow. We are also responsible for furthering the vision and mission of Lori’s Hands. This can come in many forms from recruitment to fundraising to community outreach and everything in between.

LH: As a board member, you’re one of the people who’s making decisions about our organization’s future. What are your big dreams for Lori’s Hands? Where do you see us in 5, 10 years?

Lynn: I would like to see Lori’s Hands be able to cover the majority of Delaware, the state in which it was created. This of course has many challenges, but why not think BIG? I also see expansion into more states each year. While I do think we need to be cautious about growing too fast, I think it can be done with the right support.

LH: Finally, what advice do you have for current students about how to approach our volunteer experience with Lori’s Hands?

Lynn: Be generous and kind with the community members you work with and it will pay off for you in spades. Most of all be yourself. Remember you will be with people that are vulnerable. They probably aren’t hiding anything from you so being a little vulnerable with them can make a huge difference — and not just for them. I think you will find them grateful to have an opportunity to contribute to you.