Working with the elderly is all about compassion for Deborah Palchuk.
Palchuk spends large portions of her week visiting with and supporting elderly residents of the South Cariboo as both vice president of the Mill Site Lodge/Fischer Place Auxiliary and a volunteer with Better at Home.
“I’m a giving person and I just want to give back to the community (in the hope) that one day, when I’m in that position, I’ll get the same (treatment),” Palchuk, 65, said.
Palchuk, was born and raised in Ontario before moving out to B.C. at 16 where she later met and married her husband. They lived and worked in Maple Ridge for 20 years, Palchuk working first as a waitress and later as an accountant, before moving to 100 Mile House eight years ago to “get away from the rat race.”
They chose the South Cariboo because they’d spent several summers up in the area fly-fishing, which her husband still loves to do. During that time Palchuk said she developed a real appreciation for the communities and people of the South Cariboo.
“It took me a while to get used to it up here because it’s so busy down there and it was almost eerily quiet in comparison. Now I’m used to it and I find it noisy down there,” Palchuk chuckled. “The people here are very friendly, outgoing and laid back. That’s where we all want to be when we retire, relaxed and laid back.”
After retiring from running payroll for three different companies, Palchuk said she was looking for a way to give back to the community. In the past, she dabbled in selling tickets for the Kidney Foundation of Canada but outside of a few small-scale activities had never really gotten into volunteering.
Palchuk said she was attracted to the auxiliary this September out of a desire to help the elderly residents of the community. Initially, she wanted to join the 100 Mile District General Hospital Auxiliary but after meeting Carol England, who has been volunteering at Millsite Lodge and Fischer Place for 23 years, she decided to join her organization instead.
“I like to plan and be behind the scenes. I’m not the one to go ‘hey look at me’ I’d rather just plan,” Palchuk said.
Typically throughout the month, Palchuk said the auxiliary meets on the first Thursday with a calendar provided by Millsite and Fischer Place staff detailing what they’re doing and how the axillary can help. They’ll then organize fundraisers to raise money for various treats and items, such as bingo prizes. Palchuk noted that little things mean a lot for those residents.
“What it’s all about is making sure the seniors are comfortable.”
Shortly before she started working with the auxiliary Palchuk also joined Better at Home as a community volunteer. She now works with three local seniors every week driving them to appointments, helping them shop for groceries and just spending time with them. Palchuk aims to spend two hours each with them and will play cards with her clients or take them out for coffee.
“Better at Home is great because you get to be one-on-one with the clients and see how they’re doing and make sure they’re ok,” Palchuk said. “I try to make them comfortable and happy and reassure them everything is ok because a lot of them don’t have that. A lot of them have problems with dementia and I just want them to know we’re still there for them.”
While Palchuk enjoys being vice-president of the auxiliary, she is preparing to take on the role of president at the auxiliary’s next AGM this fall. England, the auxiliary’s longtime president, said she is looking to take a step back and just serve the auxiliary as a volunteer again.
“I’m very happy Deborah has been so willing to help because a lot of people might like to volunteer but they don’t want to be on the executive,” England said.
Palchuk said that one of her priorities as president will be recruiting more new and younger members to fill out the auxiliary’s roster. Right now many of the current 13 members aren’t active due to age and can only volunteer infrequently, if at all.
“We need younger people who are physically fit who have compassion and want to help the elderly. There’s a cry for that,” Palchuk said. “The medical system has put out more money, but mostly towards mental health. When you become a senior its almost like they put you in a home and they feel like they’re being forgotten. The auxiliary lets them know they’re not forgotten.”
Anyone looking to get involved with the auxiliary is invited to come to an auxiliary meeting. Their next meeting is Thursday, May 2 at 10:30 a.m. at Fischer Place’s boardroom.