Saroj Sood
One For All
by Michelle Hopkins

Saroj Sood has a gift for lifting the spirits of those who are afraid, lonely
or sad. Sood, 78, is the unofficial den mother for the 53 senior residents in the Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society assisted-living care facility in Surrey. Whether she’s planning a birthday party for someone’s two-year-old granddaughter, hosting a sing-a-long or organizing weekly social group meetings, Sood is all about “one for all; all for one.”

She moved into the PICS care home two years ago because of heart problems.

“The doctors suggested I needed some assistance, so I came to live here,” she says.

It turned out be a good move not only for her, but for her fellow residents. Inderjeet Hundal, administrator of the PICS assisted-living home, describes Sood as “a very unique personality. Saroj keeps everyone’s spirits up and genuinely cares for people. She is very compassionate. We are very fortunate to have her,” says Hundal. “She’s always cheerful and if someone is feeling down, she’ll go over and cheer them up. It is her gift, one she shares easily with others. People love being in her presence. She just radiates pure happiness. She has a star quality about her.”

If a resident feels homesick and in need of emotional support, Sood can be counted on to offer encouragement. “I tell everyone never to give up hope,” she says. “When there’s hope, there’s life, but when the hope dies you are not alive. “I tell everyone that we are all family. We must care for each other just like real families care for each other.”

Although she’s always happy to plan group picnics and shopping excursions to the mall, or to accompany a resident who doesn’t speak English to the bank, pharmacy or grocery store, Sood derives the greatest satisfaction from seeing her fellow residents gain new confidence in themselves.

She recalls the distress of one 86-yearold woman who was “very frightened” at the prospect of living away from home. Sood immediately befriended her and soon cajoled her into getting involved in daily activities at the assisted-living centre.

“Today, she is a leader,” Sood says happily of the woman. “She used to be in a wheelchair and now she uses a walker; her health, mental and physical, have both improved. All I did was help her to feel comfortable. Now she is part of a group of seniors I got together who support each other and others.”

Sood attributes her positive outlook to her strong faith. Deeply spiritual, she spends every Friday praying in her suite.

“I fast and pray all day,” she says matterof- factly. “It is my day for God and me. “I’m so peaceful. I sit and enjoy life as it comes.”

That joy is apparent from Sood’s demeanor. She laughs easily and often.

“When you laugh, the vibrations that surround you are sent out to the others around you,” she says. “They pick up on your joy. So spread the laughter and be happy; that is my message for everybody.”