Walk the halls of Cedars Villa in Calgary, AB, with Malcolm and you’ll see people’s faces light up when they see him. And not just because he’s known to occasionally deliver sweet treats as a random act of kindness. Malcolm volunteers at the home six days a week, escorting residents to and from meals and activities.
“I’m just here to make their day a little better,” he says. “Especially for people with dementia, it’s important to talk to them and get them involved. Sometimes I just say funny things to make them smile or laugh.”
Malcolm speaks from personal experience. His wife, Julie, was a resident at Cedars Villa for nearly three years. After more than 50 years of marriage, he watched dementia slowly take away his wife’s vibrant personality and independence. Six months after she passed away, he realized he could either sit at home feeling lonely and isolated, or he could use his experience to help others. That’s when he started volunteering at Cedars Villa.
“You get out of it what you put into it,” Malcolm says of volunteering. “If you like conversation, and you like helping people, this is the job for you. I never regret a day of being here.”