By Joel Wittnebel/Active Senior’s Digest
From small talk, to card games to care giving, as an Alzheimer’s companion Terry Rutledge is a swiss army knife of kindness and compassion. A lifelong volunteer, his dedication recently culminated in his receipt of one of Ontario’s top honours for volunteer work.
The Ontario Senior Achievement Awards are handed out annually to individuals who have provided significant contributions to their communities. In 2016, 20 individuals were handed the honour, including Rutledge for his work over the past five years with the Alzheimer’s Society of London and Middlesex.
While remaining quite humble about his volunteering, Rutledge says he was honoured to receive the award.
“To tell you the honest truth, I felt that there was people more suiting than me,” he says. “But, I felt very, very privileged to be amongst the group of people that got it.”
Before retiring in 2005, the 69-year-old worked in automotive sector for Silver Line Motor Products in London, a job he started at the early age of 14. Along with that, Rutledge says he’s been volunteering all his life, holding previous roles with the Optimist Club and Scouts.
Rutledge has been married for 46 years to his wife Betty, they have one son and a 14-year-old grandchild.
Through his wife’s work with the Alzheimer’s Society, Rutledge got involved in the organization’s annual Walk for Alzheimer’s event before moving into the companion program.
It’s here that Rutledge says he’s found his most rewarding position yet.
Currently, Rutledge has been meeting with his companion Bill, who suffers from the debilitating disease, several times a week for the past four years. According to Rutledge, the pair hang out like long time friends.
“We’ve become very good friends,” he says. “Bill is so funny, he’s always got a joke and him and I share interests together.”
Whether that’s through watching movies, or discussing the intricacies of certain battles in the American Civil War, playing cards, or just discussing “life in general”, Rutledge says there’s never a dull moment.
“He get’s a little rambunctious and he has to be calmed down and I’ll help him with that,” Rutledge says.
At times, Rutledge’s wife has even had to call and inquire about about where he is, after having overstayed his set visiting time with Bill.
“I feel he is enriched from my visit and I’m certainly enriched from his companionship,” he says. “I never, ever, don’t want to go.”
However, with the highs come the lows in this line of volunteering.
Bill is Terry’s third companion, as he has seen the previous two pass away. He’s worried the same could be happening to his friend right now.
“It is very hard at times. He’s unfortunately progressing,” he says of Bill.
Sadly, Bill is not alone, according to Statistics Canada dementia is the most common form of neurodegenerative disorder. Data from 2010 estimated that 35.6 million worldwide were living with some form of dementia. A number that is expected to double over the next 20 years.
And while Betty is set to retire this year, Terry says he has no plans of slowing down.
“I’m not thinking that way because I feel young,” he says, noting that he’s going to continue to do whatever it takes to help Bill.
“I have a friend out there that has got a problem, and if I can do anything to help him with that problem, I’ll do it,” he says. “He’s a friend, and they’ve told me I’m part of their family now.”
