HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Age is just a number for Donald Fugate, who at 73 years old now dedicates his time to caring for other seniors in the Hillsborough community.
Donald, or “Don” as his friends call him, spent most of his career working as a sales rep for a mechanical business until about five years ago when his brother in Pennsylvania was diagnosed with Dementia and Parkinson’s.
Fugate retired and became his full-time caregiver.
Find out what's happening in Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“I used to make trips back and forth to take him for walks,” said Fugate to Patch. “It was just a nice thing to do. I felt really great about it.”
After his brother died, Fugate wanted to continue to help others throughout the community.
Find out what's happening in Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“When I came home, I just said, I’d like to help other people. Do the right thing, and see if I can make somebody laugh and help somebody, hopefully, do what they would like to do, and, help them along the way,” said Fugate.
Fugate then reached out to Seniors Helping Seniors and has been helping four or five clients in the Hillsborough area ever since. He visits the seniors in their own homes to serve not just as a caregiver but more like a friend.
“I see them three hours a day, feed them lunch, do what they want to do. The other day, we washed the car with a gentleman who has Parkinson’s. He was all excited about standing up and washing the car. I try to let them do as little or as much as they can,” said Fugate. “At the same time, I am helping them. Making sure everything’s okay, but making sure that they feel that they’re doing something.”
Click Here: FC Bayern Munich Jersey Sale
Fugate said he loves meeting each of his clients and getting to know each of their different personalities and their history.
“It’s exciting,” said Fugate, who hopes to continue to help other seniors for “as long as I possibly can.”
“Sometimes helping others helps yourself. So it may sound selfish, but helping them, it does help me,” said Fugate. “It’s just a wonderful thing to do. It just makes me feel good.”
For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors visit seniorshelpingseniors.com.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected].
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.