Judy Gudeman likes to think she has a special relationship with elderly people.
She's not alone — her dog, Sadie, has a bond with older people as well. Together, the volunteer team is making connections with residents at The Fountains at La Cholla.
"It's like she (Sadie) has a connection with the elderly more than any other group," said Gudeman, who since 2002 has regularly accompanied her "visiting dog" to the Fountains' assisted-living community, The Inn. "I have always gotten along well with the elderly, and volunteering with them means a lot to me as well as to her. She is a really special dog."
The self-described "animal person" said that she and Sadie visit The Inn's 62 residents to offer comfort and companionship, and to alleviate loneliness among people who are no longer able to have pets of their own.
People are also reading…
Gudeman said that Sadie, a hound-shepherd mix whom she adopted from the Humane Society more than 10 years ago, knows how to "play the room" and draw out the residents.
"They really enjoy having her around," said Gudeman, who works for Tucson's Newspapers. "It's someone they can talk to and play with while they remember things from their past. It gives them a feeling of satisfaction to reminisce and to have a dog to pat."
Sadie and Gudeman underwent training through the Delta Society, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to improving human health through service and therapy animals. That qualifies Sadie as a "visiting dog" at elder-care centers.
Sadie's training included temperament assessment and exposure to stimuli and situations involving people and other animals. She is recertified every two years.
Volunteers such as Gudeman and Sadie enrich the lives of residents, but the seniors themselves have much to offer volunteers, said Mary Weaver, community life director at The Inn and The Garden, the memory-impairment facility at The Fountains. Weaver said the experience of volunteering has proved fulfilling for teens and older volunteers alike.
"Most people don't realize what we have here until you talk to the residents," Weaver said. "Most of them have lived long lives and have lots to show for it. They are world travelers with interesting lives and hobbies, and a wealth of information.
"We have one lady who was a nurse on the front lines when Pearl Harbor was bombed," Weaver said. "Another lady's husband started the first grocery stores in Arizona, and they love to share their stories."
Gudeman enjoys hearing those stories and relishes the opportunity to brighten the days of people who may be lonely for spouses, family members, friends or pets.
"You think about yourself and realize that someday you will probably end up in that situation — most of us will, most likely," she said. "If I were in that situation, I would want to be able to play with a dog, even for a short time."
The Fountains at La Cholla, a Sunrise Community, welcomes volunteers of all ages interested in making a regular commitment to join residents at The Inn and The Garden for scheduled activities ranging from knitting and beading to playing cards and working puzzles. Volunteers also can share hobbies or interests of their own, or simply spend time talking with the residents.
For more information, call Mary Weaver at 797-2002.
