Olicia has always been committed to caring for others.
For 14 years, she ran a crèche near her home in London, before giving it up to focus on caring for older relatives and helping at her local church.
But in recent years, Olicia, 69, has had to learn to be kind to herself, too. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, and having two operations to treat the illness in 2017, Olicia realised that her dedication to others had meant she’d neglected herself, and her health.
“I knew I had to take time out for myself,” she says, “which I’ve been doing ever since.”
I used to exercise, but because I was a carer and also working, I didn’t have time to do as much as I would have liked to.
No time for herself
For nearly 20 years, Olicia had found that taking time for herself was easier said than done. Olicia started caring for her son’s grandparents in 1998, until they passed away in 2005 and 2017.
She admits that it was challenging, especially alongside her work and her life as a single parent: “Being a carer is not easy. Plus, I had a little business to run, as well as picking up the children from school. You have to survive and pay the bills. It was tough.
“I had to take care of my son’s grandparents and make sure they were OK, and I think I forgot myself. I just put all my energy into them because of their age.”
Nowadays, Olicia can devote more energy to caring for herself. She has regular check-ups for her lymphedema, a side-effect of her operations which causes her left arm to swell, and must manage her symptoms. But every week, Olicia also makes time for an Age UK exercise class.
A community at Age UK Westminster
“I used to exercise, but because I was a carer and also working, I didn’t have time to do as much as I would have liked to,” says Olicia.
Following Olicia’s operations, a friend recommended she attend an exercise class at Age UK Westminster. “I went along just to see what it was like, and I’ve never turned back.”
Olicia is enjoying being more physically active, and now regularly starts the day with a morning walk and stretches, but becoming part of a community is a welcome bonus. She’s happy to have found such a friendly group of people at Age UK Westminster’s Beethoven Centre – which, coincidentally, was also the site of her former crèche. Olicia goes along to the Beethoven Centre every week for an exercise class or an art class, and it comforts her to know that all the attendees can support each other.
“It’s just a community I love,” she says. “Age UK Westminster puts on different activities and Christmas parties and it’s great. You meet different people. We take care of one another.”
I think sometimes in life, what you give out is what you receive back.
A strong faith and sense of purpose
Alongside Olicia’s involvement with Age UK Westminster, her faith brings her great comfort. It also means that, despite paying more attention to her own health and fitness, helping others remains part of her daily life.
Olicia volunteers at her local church, regularly opening up the church in the morning to put the heating on, so that everything’s ready for Mass.
“I think it strengthens your mind, your body, your spirit,” Olicia says of her faith. “It’s so important and means you don't sit at home being lonely thinking about your own problems. You just go ahead and help others and do what you must do.”
It’s this sense of purpose that continues to drive Olicia’s selflessness. She now cares for her uncle, who has prostate cancer, managing his appointments, as well as looking out for her friends and neighbours.
“I've got a next-door neighbour who's suffering with cancer. Sometimes I'll knock her door and ask if she’d like some water or a pint of milk. You know, little things like that. I think sometimes in life, what you give out is what you receive back.”
Act Now, Age Better
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