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At 92 Years Old, Retired Phlebotomist Maintains Active Routine in Louisville, Working Five Days a Week, Creating Lasting Bonds with Patients, Colleagues, and Reinforcing the Human Value in the Healthcare Environment
At 92 years old, Lillie Gilliam works five days a week in Louisville, after retiring nearly three decades ago, demonstrating why she remains active in primary care at UofL Health. The data in the story comes from an article published in 2025 by WDRB.
Education and Start of the Elderly Woman’s Career
Gilliam studied at Nazareth College, now Spalding University, to become a laboratory technician, building a path that predates her retirement three decades ago.
She retired but continues to work five days a week, a reality that challenges expectations about rest, travel, and routine after the end of formal career.
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Role at UofL Health
For 25 years, Gilliam has worked as a phlebotomist at UofL Health, a role performed in primary care, initially planned to last only a few days.
Those few days turned into years, totaling 25 years in the same building, after about 20 years working for another physician.
The routine includes blood draws, support for laboratory test requests, and reception duties, tasks spread throughout a typical day.
Bond with Patients and Colleagues
Gilliam credits her colleagues for her daily energy, stating that they keep her young and teach her how to use the computer.
With frequent patients, the bond is strong, to the point that concerns arise when she is absent, even after improvised notice on site.
On one occasion, colleagues displayed a sign indicating vacation, but patients kept checking, an episode that Gilliam recalls with laughter.
Gifts received over the years decorate her office, reinforcing an environment of shared joy and daily recognition among colleagues.
Motivations and Continuity of Work of the Elderly Woman
Despite the hard work, Gilliam says she stays because she loves her colleagues like family, acknowledging the difficulty of saying a definitive goodbye.
She states that camaraderie keeps her there as long as there is health, opportunity, and the constant presence of colleagues in the environment.
Colleagues reciprocate the affection, highlighting her unusual vitality, as Gilliam approaches her 93rd birthday next June.
Without attributing any secrets, she thanks God and says she finds it rewarding to work, make people happy, and maintain an active daily purpose.
With information from WDRB.
Parabéns! Bonito exemo de força e boa vontade!
A matéria não mencionou em que país ela vive. Louisville é uma informação muito vaga.
Louisville fica nos Estados Unidos
Que Deus abençoe ela muito em quanto ela puder Deus da forças ela tem muita gente que pode trabalhar mais prefere roubar e matar que Deus abençoe e proteja muito ela
Eu tenho 70 anos e ainda trabalho, em casa e on-line também. Fazendo peruca pára-pessoas que fazem quimioterapia.
E sem contar , o prazer de estar em contato com as pessoas . Nós trazem grande satisfação. Envelhecimento o corpo e não a mente!