Why Oupa exists
“Oupa” (pronounced OH-puh) is the Afrikaans word for grandfather.
Oupa exists to help people preserve their independence and age well.
It began with our founder’s grandfather, whose last years were decided for him rather than with him. That experience shaped a simple conviction: the decisions we face about home deserve better.
These decisions deserve honest information, a clear framework, and the freedom to choose on your own terms — not under pressure, and not steered by someone else’s agenda.
That’s where Oupa begins: a simple, free assessment that helps you think through whether to stay in your home, adapt it, or move. And it’s the start of something larger — a trusted resource for living independently and for the decisions that come next.
Because the choice is yours.
Meet the founder
My corporate career began as a chartered accountant at PwC, one of the world’s largest professional services firms, and the 25+ years since have been spent in real estate and business. Numbers, property, and big decisions about home have been my working life.
Oupa is personal for me. My grandfather — my oupa — spent his last days in a nursing home. The decisions that put him there were made without enough information, without enough options, and without the dignity he deserved. I built Oupa so other families can decide differently: earlier, with clearer information, and on their own terms.
I’m a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® and a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) — credentials that hold me to professional standards in how I guide people and how homes can adapt as needs change. And I’m passionate about health and longevity, because staying independent depends on more than the right address. That’s why Oupa looks at the whole picture: your home, your health, your support, your finances, and the life you want to live.
— John Fick, Founder
Certified Senior Advisors (CSAs) have supplemented their individual professional licenses, credentials, and education with knowledge about aging and working with older adults. It is recommended that you verify the validity of any professional’s credentials with whom you conduct business and be sure you completely understand what those licenses, credentials, and education signify. The CSA certification alone does not imply expertise in financial, health, or social matters. For more details visit the Society of Certified Senior Advisors (www.csa.us).