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At 49, Barbara Kennedy was lucky enough to be downsized – that dreadful word to some was truly a blessing in disguise to her.
“I decided that I did not ever want to commute again and so I started looking for something else to do with the rest of my life,” she said.
Barbara Kennedy set out to create her own job description, by working on projects until she found something to get passionate about. Knowing that she wanted to give back to her community and do all of the things she enjoyed doing, Barbara shifted into high gear with a ferocious passion to fill a service gap that she had encountered when dealing with her aging mother and other close family and friends.
After a series of events that would certainly change her life forever, including being witness to her sister’s in-laws struggling with U.S. medical costs and the lack of readily available home therapy for a friend living in England who had suffered a brain aneurysm, she soon discovered her chance to make a difference in her community and her world. Once her 85 year-old mother, who had been living in Vancouver for the last 25 years, was diagnosed with dementia in 2002, Barbara knew that her mother could no longer safely live alone. This was Barbara’s call to action.
“By the time I had spent six weeks traveling to and from Vancouver, the idea for my baby boomer business was born. I realized that without having to deal with the emotions of seeing a parent’s health deteriorate, it would be much faster for a third party to assist in the process,” she said.
With a dynamic background spanning from Québec to Ontario, Barbara delved into physical education, project and event management, fund raising and corporate administration (as an executive assistant to a bank president), to name a few of her pursuits. Most recently Barbara put her transferable skills to work by creating a business that she’s passionate about – Changing Gears Inc. - Compassionate Transitions For Seniors.
“I had always driven a stick shift and was a long time project manager, so Changing Gears seemed to fit. My friends and colleagues wondered how anyone would know it was about seniors, so after going back and forth with a lot of other company names for a month that didn’t really suit my business idea as well, I added the tag line compassionate transitions for seniors,” said Barbara.
The Changing Gears Way
Similar to the changing seasons that have their benefits, Changing Gears Inc. is a Canada-wide organization that works with family, friends, and the community, to guide boomers and their families through the many exciting and not always easy transitions ahead. Changing Gears’ one-stop services include: The Lifestyle Transitions Program, a Website, and Seminars and Speakers. Changing Gears is about opening up a whole new world of possibilities through providing higher quality living and lifestyle choices for boomers and their families and having as much fun as you possibly can, for as long as you can, no matter what your abilities.
In addition to this, Changing Gears is growing and providing a referral service Canada wide. Barbara is hoping to connect with Roaring Women in other provinces that she can refer business to and also encourage them and others to create a baby boomer business too.
“I absolutely love what I do. I am passionate about telling others about it. The website is a true reflection of my interests and values. I am a public speaker and offer to talk about a choice of a few of the 20 topics on the site. I am also working on connecting high school students having to fulfill volunteer hours with the seniors in the students’ neighbourhoods.”
Last year Barbara was a vital part of a new Halton based initiative called Be a Santa to a Senior. Changing Gears partnered with Home Instead Senior Care amongst others to ensure that this now annual program was a success. Last year, 1100 seniors residing in various Halton Long Term Care facilities received gifts and hand made cards due to the aid of the committee members, and volunteers. Barbara’s involvement with Be a Santa reflects her compassion for those in our society that are often ignored and neglected.
As Barbara reinvented herself after being downsized she knew that she wanted to give back to her community and do all of the things that brought her happiness in life. By giving back to her community through her volunteer work and the creation of Changing Gears Inc. she has done that and more.
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