Alzheimer's Volunteer Recognized For 25 Years Of Work

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Think of long-term commitments that last more than 25-five years.  Marriages, mortgages, and careers -- to name a few.

A Fort Worth woman has put two-and-a-half decades into something she never imagined would become so important to her.  And she does it for free.

"Y'all this is Halle Berry and she's going to do some tricks for us today," 53-year old Lisa Waldron told the dozen people seated on couches and chairs around her as she scratched behind the ears of her small, white dog Halle.

Waldron and her dog were putting on a show.

"Halle, go around!" Waldron said as Halle spun in circles. "Go around!"
The audience members are weekly regulars and they love watching Halle do everything from moonwalk to close cabinet doors.

They're Alzheimer's patients at the James West Adult Day Care program.  "We started at an old room in the church," Waldron said. "I think it was the first adult day care center. It was an experiment. At that time I brought a little dog with me named Gretchen. It was just fun. Gretchen would do her tricks. I thought I would come for maybe a month and then one week went to the next and the next and the next. And then I realized a few years had passed."

A few years became 25-years. Gretchen gave way to two other dogs, even a parrot. And every week, almost without fail, Waldron comes to entertain, pray and sing with her friends at the adult day care. And she learns from them too.

"People who have Alzheimer's sometimes they get confused," Waldron said. "But sometimes they're very lucid. And when they're relaxed they're lucid and i can see god in their eyes and they teach me a lot about life. I come here because it sets my mind right for the week. I miss it if I don't come."

Lisa is receiving a national award to honor her work from a national agency for Alzheimer's care.

"I feel like as far as the giving I don't give that much," Waldron said. "I love these people."

Waldron is being recognized by the National Adult Day Services Association.  She'll receive the award in Milwaukee on Saturday.