Elvith: Good afternoon. I’m Elvith Araus from Panama and I am one of the. independent living coach for foundation for independent living and also one of the living staff.
Question: You are one of FIL’s longest serving employees. What has kept you here all these years?
Elvith: I have been in FIL for about 18 years, and I’m here because I love what I do. I like to work with the residents. I like to help them to accomplish what they need to do at their houses, and that’s
what keep me going every single day.
Q: How has FIL changed or grown during your time here and what has it meant to be
part of that journey?
Elvith: FIL is the place to be now. I like FIL at this moment. I love how the new administration is
handling everything in this moment from staff to resident. Everything sounds beautiful and happy.
Q: What do you love most about working with our residents?
Elvith: I love most working one-on-one with them because that give me the opportunity to
get to know who they are, what they think, what they love, what they want.
Q: Is there a moment or memory with a resident that has stayed close to your heart?
Elvith: Yes, indeed. I always have memories of our beloved Joe Beninat. I used to be his ILC, and we have very great moments together in which after he finished what needed to be done, we sit and he listen to his favorite music, and he told me stories like he worked in the hospital, and he was an alter boy that and also how he helped a little boy in the hospital. He gave him a Tonka toy.
Q: People describe you as incredibly dedicated and detail oriented. What motivates you to show up with such consistency every day?
Elvith: My motivation is that I don’t like messiness. I like to keep everything organized, and I like that I’m able to
help the resident with the tools they need like organization in the house and the room whatever part in the house so they can live in a nice and clean environment.
Q: Your faith is a big part of who you are. How does your spiritual beliefs influence the way you care for your residents?
Elvith: My belief have a huge part in how I behave with the people around me because I treat them the way I like people to treat me. That’s the golden rule. Treat other as you like to be treated yourself.
Q: What is something families might be surprised to learn about you?
Elvith: Family must be surprised knowing the way I think. I love Jesus and everywhere I go, I speak about
Jesus. No matter what you like it or not, Jesus is first in my life.
Q: If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Elvith: I am responsible, committed, and trustworthy. Why? Because those are the qualities that if you want to work in FIL, you bring in that’s all they expect from you.
Q: What advice would you give someone new joining FIL or working in this field?
Elvith: First of all, you really need to love people because in FIL you have totally different. Everybody’s
different. Everybody have different things that maybe you not don’t like it. But if you’re going to work here, you
have to just know that everybody deserve a chance. Just like the chance they give you to work in to bring your best.
Q: What inspires you to keep growing, learning, and serving?
Elvith: No question at all. I’m very grateful for my life. Every day when I wake up and I open my eyes, the first thing I do is thanks God for another day that he granted me. And every day when I go to bed, I do the same thing because life is the most precious thing. Thank you, Lord.
Q: If you can leave one last message to your residents, what would that be?
Elvith: I will tell them to keep forgiving, to keep loving, to keep laughing. That’s the most important thing in life. Keep loving, forgiving, and lasting.
