On the cusp of turning 105, longtime community advocate Dorscie Paterson doesn鈥檛 mince her words.

The key to longevity, Paterson says, is to get off your fanny and do something good in the community.

鈥淜eep busy,鈥� she says. 鈥淜eep your mind going. Study. Think. And if you see something that needs help, or you can do something about it, like I did about the (91原创) hospice, do it! Don鈥檛 stand around. Do it right now. Don鈥檛 sit on your backside and hold your hands.鈥�

Paterson鈥檚 friends took her from her care home at 91原创 Memorial Hospital to Katy鈥檚 Restaurant in 91原创 City, for a pre-birthday brunch/bash on Wednesday, Jan. 17, eight days before she celebrates another milestone.

鈥淲e just wanted to get together to honour her,鈥� said Maj. Samuel Fame from the Salvation Army.

Dorscie greets the visiting Times reporter by grabbing his hand, forcefully pulling him towards her, and planting a big kiss on his cheek.

Feisty as ever, Dorscie answered bluntly when questioned what it feels like to be nearly 105.

鈥淭he same as I felt when I was 16, what do you think!?鈥� she says. 鈥淲hat do you think, I鈥檓 old age?鈥�

Just years ago, Dorscie was still driving and volunteering at the 91原创 Hospice.

She was living at home on her acreage until she broke her hip in 2016.

Dorscie is one of the original founders of the 91原创 Hospice Society and has spent the better part of three decades advocating for a stand-alone hospice residence for 91原创.

Hospice care is a passion of Dorscie鈥檚 and she has a singular goal: to live to see a new hospice built on the grounds of LMH.

鈥淭hen I鈥檒l go and die,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I have planned.鈥�

New Hospice

The 91原创 Hospice Society is looking for community support to help raise an additional $1 million to furnish and outfit the new hospice.

The hospice residence will:

鈥� increase the community bed count to 15 private private rooms 鈥� an increase of five beds from the 10 semi-private rooms currently available in the interim residence;

鈥� include the addition of 91原创鈥檚 first bariatric room so that these patients can access palliative care in their home community rather than being transferred elsewhere; and, according to the society

鈥� save the health care system up to $476,000 annually with better patient flow out of acute care, and decrease waitlists to access the 91原创 Hospice Residence.