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 Bill
and his wife, Agnes, found more than a respite care volunteer in Larry Beer.
They found a true friend.
Bill has
Alzheimer’s disease and is homebound; Agnes happily serves as his caregiver, but
that leaves little time for her own needs. Thanks to the Respite Care Volunteer
Program of Boulder County’s Aging Services Division and Larry’s commitment of
two hours each week, Agnes has gained some personal time while Bill finds
himself gaining a new best friend.
As a Respite
Care volunteer, Larry visits Bill each week and gives Agnes a break from her
care-giving duties. Larry provides more than care for Bill; he provides
companionship and shared experiences. During their time together, the two men
have discovered unexpected coincidences of background - including a “Japan
Connection:” As a young student, Larry attended a Japanese school; Bill also
spent time in the education system in Japan – but as a teacher. Additionally,
Agnes’ grandfather was a well-known professor in Japan.
From an early
age, Larry has made volunteering a part of his life, primarily through various
teaching and mentoring projects. He currently works as Regional Director for
Open World Learning, an educational non-profit organization that provides
after-school opportunities in technology education and leadership to children,
with a focus on low-income neighborhoods in the Denver area.
At a time when
many Americans find work and family to be more than enough to occupy all their
time, Larry holds fast to his commitment of helping others. In his case, the
rewards include learning about intergenerational
similarities and differences. Larry and Bill share a common bond in their close
marriages and reliance on family. In recent weeks, Larry has introduced his
wife, Melissa, and 2-year-old son, Kai, to Agnes and Bill, expanding the elder
couple’s social circle.
Summing up his
personal philosophy, Larry quotes Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the change you wish to see
in the world.” To this he adds his own words, “or at least keep trying.”
Relating that philosophy to the Respite Volunteer Program, Larry says, “think
about the fact that maybe, someday, you may wish someone would give a little
more time to you.”
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