Meet Donamae – a volunteer, dog mom and world traveller who’s proving that independence has no age limit.
Ask Donamae what keeps her busy, and the list is long! Alongside her therapy dog, Mark-Cuss, she volunteers in the community, spends time with family and friends, loves to travel, and makes the most of every opportunity to get out and enjoy life.
At 76, she lives alone, but she never lets that define what she can do. Instead, she focuses on everything she still wants to experience. Her Lifeline button simply gives her the confidence to keep saying “yes” to the life she loves.
Most mornings, she’s out the door with her therapy dog, Mark-Cuss, and they volunteer with the St. John’s Ambulance Therapy Dogs program, where they visit Stony Mountain Institution, giving their time to its weekly pet therapy program.
Since 2020, Victoria Lifeline has been quietly part of Donamae’s everyday routine. She proudly uses the mobile Lifeline service, and unlike many people, she made the decision to get the service before she ever needed it. You won’t find an alarming story about a tragic fall or emergency room visit that prompted her to consider a medical alert button. She understood what aging meant and the realities of living alone. A fall didn’t just risk a painful bruise; it could have limited the freedom she loved. For Donamae, it’s about protecting what matters the most – her independence. She needed a plan for herself as she aged in place. It was a proactive decision that, unfortunately, too few people make.
“I’m 76 and I live alone. Anything can happen. And if it does, I want to make sure I’ll be able to get help. I see it as a safety net.”
Donamae, on the people who ask if she’s “too young” for Lifeline
She comes back to the same thought again and again: Lifeline isn’t a response to a life that’s already gotten smaller. For her, it’s what keeps her life large.
Finding a Deeper Purpose as She Ages
Giving back is a big part of who Donamae is, and she’s candid that none of her enjoyment in life would look the same without her help button. Alongside Mark-cuss, her adorable therapy dog, she volunteers with the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program, visiting Stony Mountain Institution to provide comfort and support to staff and inmates. She shared that without the security that Lifeline provides, her life would look very different.
“Without my Lifeline, I wouldn’t be volunteering as much; I wouldn’t be going out as much.”
Donamae on how not having Lifeline would slow her down
As most of us know, life doesn’t always go according to plan! During a winter storm, a few years after first getting her Lifeline button, Donamae slipped and hit her head. She was in a lot of pain and was unable to lift herself back up. Thankfully, a passing motorist stopped his car to help Donamae. Her button’s automatic fall detection had also gone off and alerted the Lifeline call centre. She cancelled the help call once she was able to get back on her feet and knew she was okay.
She was thankful that she had two layers of protection in that moment, but acknowledged that the stranger who stopped to help was mostly luck and not a reliable safety solution. She shared this story because she didn’t plan to fall on that cold, icy day. You can’t predict when a fall or emergency will happen, but you can be prepared for it. And that is why Lifeline means so much to her.
Lifeline Helps Her Whole Family
Donamae was quick to point out that Lifeline isn’t just about giving herself a safety net and peace of mind. It also provides support and peace of mind to her family. Members of her family no longer needed to constantly carry the worry of “Is she okay right now?”
She joked that before getting Lifeline, her sister “used to call every day, and now she never calls.” Everyone can simply enjoy their day, knowing that if Donamae ever needs help, someone is always there to answer the call.
“The biggest asset is that it makes my family feel very comfortable because they know somebody’s always looking after me… My family doesn’t have to worry about me. So when I call, they know it’s just to talk, not that I need help.”
Donamae
That provided a positive change for the whole family. It meant her calls were conversations, not check-ins. Her relationships get to stay relationships, not caregiving arrangements.
“Lifeline Doesn’t Restrict Me”
Donamae often hears hesitation from friends and neighbours her age when discussing the benefits of her Lifeline button. People sometimes worry that wearing a medical alert button makes them look old and signals vulnerability. Donamae couldn’t disagree more!
“I find that it gives me the freedom to do whatever I want, whenever I want, and it’s just the best thing ever.”
Donamae
For her, it’s ingrained into her routine. She charges it every evening without thinking twice, and she won’t even go downstairs without it. Not out of anxiety, but out of habit. It’s there, it works, and once it’s on, she stops thinking about it and gets on with her day.
In fact, the only time it bothers her is when she doesn’t have it; she still thinks about the trip to Australia she took without it a few years ago, and she’s already anxious about leaving it behind for her upcoming trip to Bali (Lifeline mobile service is only available in Canada). That’s how much it’s become part of her everyday life.
Why It Matters That Victoria Lifeline Is Local
For Donmae, choosing Victoria Lifeline wasn’t just about finding a medical alert service; it was about choosing one she could trust. Donamae likes knowing that when she needs help, the people responding are based in Canada, fast-acting, reliable, and familiar…not a call centre somewhere far away.
“It was very important for me to go with the Manitoba-based company… somebody’s always right there and very fast whenever you need help.”
Donamae
The fact that Victoria Lifeline is a local not-for-profit organization is also a bonus. Knowing that by using the Victoria Lifeline service, she is also supporting the local healthcare system through their integrated partnership with Victoria Hospital Foundation.
Donamae’s Takeaway
Donamae’s decision to sign up for the Lifeline service before any major incidents ever occurred wasn’t about what Lifeline could prevent. It’s about what it makes possible. For her, it allows her to confidently fill her calendar and get out of the house whenever and however she wants. Victoria Lifeline keeps you engaged in the world, independent, and active, so you can keep living the life you’ve built, on your own terms.
