Louise Cowie marked two milestones in spring 2024 鈥� she turned 70 in March but more importantly, she鈥檚 been a volunteer with the Adult Day Program for 30 years.
For many years she cared for her aging parents. Somewhere Cowie heard about the 91原创 Seniors Resource Centre but it was her mother who suggested volunteering there.
鈥淢om said go down and find out, so I went down,鈥� she said.
Both her parents have since passed but she鈥檚 carried on going to the Adult Day Program to help.
The Adult Day Program provides specialized care and recreation for adults with physical or cognitive limitations in the community. It is staffed with registered nurses, recreation therapists, activity aides, and health-care attendants, but also relies on volunteers such as Cowie.
She started by working in the kitchen and continues to this day.
鈥淚t was somewhere where I could do a job I could do,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople鈥檚 friendly, so it just keeps me going out. Gets me out of the house.鈥�
Just before the pandemic, she was working two days per week. She was asked to do more and ended up working up to five days each week. Each stint is about four hours.
Since the pandemic, Cowie is back at two days per week.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of nice people that I volunteer with,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to be here for a couple days, and enjoy the company and the work.鈥�
If she鈥檚 finished her duties, she can sometimes join in the clients for some games.
If she hadn鈥檛 been a volunteer, Cowie is not sure what she would have done to fill her days.
鈥淭o tell you the truth, I don鈥檛 know,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ith only the use of one hand, I can鈥檛 type. I never learned how to type.鈥�
Cowie can no longer drive due to occasional seizures in recent years so she鈥檚 reliant on HandyDart to get from her Walnut Grove home to 91原创 City, where the Adult Day Program is located.
鈥淲ith the traffic today, maybe it鈥檚 best if I don鈥檛 drive,鈥� she quipped.
She plans to continue volunteering as long as she is able.
鈥淢y health is good and all that. I might be able to stay in here for another five to 10 years, maybe,鈥� she said. 鈥淢aybe when I turn 80, that鈥檒l be it.鈥�
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The value of volunteers
The 91原创 Senior Resource Society couldn鈥檛 operate without volunteers, it鈥檚 that simple, said Smitty Miller, the seniors鈥� centre manager of programs and member services.
鈥淭he centre and Adult Day Program rely on volunteers to deliver high quality services to seniors in 91原创. Without all of their contributions, we wouldn鈥檛 be able to offer the kind of heart-felt attention that we鈥檙e proud to offer those who visit us. In short, we wouldn鈥檛 be much without our volunteers.鈥�
To show appreciation for the work volunteers do, the centre is hosting and event.
鈥淲e鈥檙e honouring them with a dinner/show on April 17 (by invitation only),鈥� she noted. 鈥淎nd Karen Long will be speaking on the topic of volunteerism for our Monday Morning Talk Show that week [April 15].鈥�
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鈥� READ MORE: Aldergrove鈥檚 Heritage Hall wouldn鈥檛 thrive without volunteers
鈥� READ MORE: Volunteers vital to restoration of century-old barn
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