Take inspiration from this 70-year-old grandma who returned to lifeguard duty and continues to save lives.
Amid the nationwide labor shortage, a 70-year-old grandma decided to rejoin the workforce as a lifeguard. Robin Borlandoe, lovingly nicknamed “Lifeguard Grandma” by her community, felt that all kids deserved a safe place to swim.
However, Philadelphia city pools didn’t have enough lifeguards to reopen for the summer safely. Desperate for workers, the city appealed to the public, urging anyone with lifeguard experience to apply.
When Borlandoe heard the cry for help, she felt compelled to answer it. According to an interview with Fox 29 Philadelphia, she first became a lifeguard in the late 1960s. Just 16 years old then, she served the Kingsessing neighborhood in southwest Philadelphia.
While she hadn’t been on a lifeguard stand in 54 years, Borland had fond memories of the job as a teen. Knowing her city needed help, she grabbed her whistle and swimsuit without hesitation. She may have been a bit rusty, but that didn’t deter her from filling out an application.
“I decided to finally do it to do something for our kids, our community,” Borlandoe told the news outlet.
According to another interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer, she had enjoyed a fulfilling career in the health field. After retiring, she kept busy caring for sick relatives and didn’t plan on looking for another job. However, she changed her mind when she saw the Parks and Recreation Department’s recruiting campaign for lifeguards.
City officials rushed to fill positions before opening Philadelphia’s community pools this summer. Nationwide, many other cities have a critical shortage of lifeguards due to the pandemic and booming economy. The strong labor market may encourage young adults and teens who typically take lifeguard jobs to seek other employment.
Lifeguard Grandma Steps Up To Help Her Community
Despite labor challenges, cities throughout the U.S. have tried to recruit as many lifeguards as possible. Philadelphia city officials seemed to have a winning strategy, as they had enough workers to open 50 of 65 pools. In addition to a successful recruiting campaign, the city offered higher wages than in previous years.
“It’s been a journey,” Borlandoe said. “The call of what’s been going on in the city. We’re in a bad spot and I just wanted to do something.”
However, adjusting to lifeguard duty after a 54-year hiatus proved more brutal than she’d imagined. She discovered that training involved more physical demands than in her teenage years.
Lifeguards in Philadelphia must pass a challenging exam that includes one new requirement. In addition to swimming laps and treading water, lifeguards must recover a brick from the bottom of the pool. If applicants complete these tests, they automatically qualify for the position.
Borlandoe felt slightly overwhelmed by the new lifeguard test, but she wouldn’t back down from the challenge. She wanted to help children and families have a fun summer and ensure their safety. And it seemed other older adults shared that sentiment as well.
Including Borlandoe, 16 seniors aged 50 and older reported for lifeguard duty to help Philadelphia open more pools. Borlandoe’s loved ones supported her decision and felt that the “Lifeguard Grandma” was perfect for the job.
“Anyone that knows me would not be surprised that I’m going to do this,” she said.
Several younger people who read her story felt annoyed that news outlets put so much emphasis on her age. However, Borlandoe didn’t mind since it showed the public how the elderly could serve their communities. She said it provided a chance to put a positive spin on aging and demonstrate how elders can uplift young people.
70-Year-Old Grandma Hopes Her Story Will Inspire Others
Even though lifeguards in Philadelphia received a sizable pay raise, Borlandoe didn’t sign up for the money. She mostly felt motivated to rejoin the workforce so that children would have a safe environment during summer. For many children and families, pools provide a fun, affordable way to cool off in scorching temperatures.
However, the lifeguard shortage made it harder to access places to swim.
“They have no place to go,” she explained. “Pools are closed all around.”
Borlandoe believes that keeping pools open doesn’t just provide recreational opportunities. It also gives children a safe place to play and shelters them from increasing violence in Philadelphia.
Tragically, at least a hundred children under eighteen were shot in the city in 2022. One of these shootings happened outside Borlandoe’s home, killing three young boys.
“When you see it, it’s scary, and it’s very sad,” she said.
After witnessing the tragic event, Borlandoe felt motivated “to do something, no matter how small, to help out.” She hopes her story will encourage others to consider lifeguard positions in their cities.
“I’m very much committed to this,” she said. “This is my reputation. This is my community.”
Borlandoe takes her position seriously and doesn’t just think of it as a summer job. She knows cities need lifeguards more than ever to protect children from violence on the streets.
“We need to do something,” she declared. “We need to save our youth; save our future.”
If you have experience lifeguarding, perhaps this story will motivate you to serve your community! The American Lifeguard Association estimates that staffing shortages affect over 30% of U.S. pools. So, check with your local pools to see if they have open positions. Chances are they probably need you!
Final Thoughts on the Lifeguard Grandma Who Was Ready to Save Lives
Robin Borlandoe, a 70-year-old Philadelphia native, decided to come out of retirement to save lives. After seeing a recruitment campaign for lifeguards amid unprecedented staffing shortages in the city, she wanted to help. The retiree didn’t plan on reentering the job market but couldn’t ignore the city’s desperate call for lifeguards.
A shooting involving three children outside her home also influenced her decision. She wanted to ensure kids had a safe place to play during the summer and protect them from violence. Borlandoe hopes others will also consider filling lifeguard positions to keep their city pools open.
