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For Abdel Ait Chaib and Ghizlane Bellacen, assisting older adults isn’t just their job — it’s their culture. In their native Morocco, living in multigenerational families is the norm. That has proven to be the ideal background for their roles at Shillman House in Framingham.

Abdel serves as a maintenance mechanic and Ghizlane as a site representative, providing on-site assistance to residents in the evenings and overnight. But that doesn’t begin to describe how they view their roles. “The residents here are like our own grandparents. It’s a great pleasure to talk with them and help with whatever they need,” says Ghizlane.

That sense of family extends to their two young children, who enjoy living at Shillman House. “They love visiting the people here,” Ghizlane notes, sharing that the children often deliver packages to residents, who look forward to these youthful visits.

In addition to his day job doing maintenance, Abdel also pitches in as a site representative in the evenings. In fact, they both routinely assist with tasks that are not part of their job descriptions. You can often find one or both of them helping to set up for an event, for example. “We never say no,” Ghizlane says.

It’s all about people supporting each other, they say. “Where we grew up, if your neighbor needs help, you help them,” Abdel explains. “If you can help someone, just do it.”

Keith Kennedy is a maintenance mechanic at our Shirley Meadows campus, a job he sees as maintaining close relationships with the residents who rely on him as much as making sure that everything functions as it should.

Keith makes himself available through an open door policy. “I want people to know that they have someone they can turn to whenever they have an issue,” he says. “No matter how minor it is, I want to know. Taking care of little problems helps avoid bigger problems.”

Keith is always willing to go out of his way to help, whether it’s hanging a picture on a wall or just lending an ear. This approach has made him a favorite with residents: “That builds trust, which is very important. After all, I’m coming into their home.” In return, he reaps benefits from these relationships. “Residents have a lot of good advice and great stories. Spending time with them is really a treat,” he says.

Over the years, Keith has worked in a variety of settings, from college dormitories to market-rate rentals. But at 2Life, he’s found the ideal environment. “Everyone at 2Life supports the mission of living in community,” he asserts. “It matches my own vision for how residents should be treated.”

Rosie Schiavone loves a challenge. She continually takes on new tasks that expand her knowledge — and her impact on 2Life Communities.

As facilities administrator, Rosie is responsible for managing all the contracts, invoices, insurance paperwork, and other details that keep our facilities team on track. She’s always willing to take on something new, such as implementing a new online training platform for our maintenance mechanics.

“Even if it’s something I’ve never done, I want to do it,” she says. “For me, it’s important to step up and help when needed.”

Rosie’s talent and excitement for learning new things is matched by her enjoyment of other people. You will often find her helping out at 2Life events or visiting with residents. “I always take time to ask about their day or compliment them. I think kindness is contagious,” she explains.

A music lover since childhood, Rosie also enjoys playing the piano in the Brighton lobby. “If there are residents nearby, I think it gives them a little joy. I see the smiles on their faces. And it’s a way to communicate across language barriers,” she explains.

Although Rosie has worked at 2Life for just a year and a half, she feels fortunate to contribute to our mission of helping older adults live full lives in community. “Honoring our elders is very important to me,” Rosie says. “When I see what 2Life has done for so many older adults, and being part of something so grand, it makes me very proud.”