Stuti Sandhu
As a fourth-year arts student studying psychology, Stuti Sandhu is turning her passion for helping others into meaningful action. As the founder of Being There, Stuti is working to address a critical gap in community support for older adults by creating a preventive care model designed to help them maintain independence and age in place.
Her journey began long before the idea for Being There took shape. Growing up, she always knew she wanted to help people. While many children dream of becoming astronauts, engineers or superheroes, Stuti envisioned starting a nonprofit organization that would make a real difference in people’s lives. At the time, she didn’t know exactly how that dream would unfold, but she continued to pursue opportunities that allowed her to serve others.
That clarity came while volunteering in hospitals. During this experience, she encountered many older adults navigating complex health challenges and a lack of preventive support. She began to see firsthand how easily small issues, such as dehydration, missed meals or forgotten medications could escalate into serious health concerns.
Those observations sparked the idea behind Being There. The organization focuses on prevention, aiming to support older adults before health challenges become emergencies. By identifying early warning signs and providing consistent community support, Being There works to reduce avoidable emergency department visits and help older adults maintain their baseline health and independence for as long as possible.
For Stuti, entrepreneurship has played an important role in turning her academic knowledge into real-world impact. Through her psychology program, she developed a strong understanding of research and human behaviour. However, it was through her involvement with the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and the World Champion Enactus Saint Mary's team that she learned how to implement ideas and build solutions that address real community needs. The business was also a part of the team that recently took third place in the 2026 Desjardins Community Empowerment Challenge at the Enactus Regional Exposition this February.
She says that many students in arts and science fields are motivated by a desire to change the world, but often lack the tools to turn research into action. Entrepreneurship, she believes, provides that pathway.
Today, Being There is preparing to launch its first pilot program, marking an exciting milestone for the organization. Stuti hopes the initiative will not only support older adults in the community but also inspire greater collaboration among organizations that share a commitment to improving aging care.
As the project grows, Sandhu continues to focus on her original mission: ensuring that older adults feel supported, valued and able to live independently for as long as possible.
Interested in learning more about how entrepreneurship can blend with other areas of study? Explore programs and events at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre.