Trouble at Glenmeadow- It's a Good Thing

04/05/2011

As the Activities Assistant at Glenmeadow, Lisa King helps Laura Lavoie, Director of Resident Programs plan and execute activities for residents. It is a very active job with something different happening everyday, she says. "The residents really appreciate it, which is a very nice feeling."

Lisa had a twenty-five year background in sales before she joined Glenmeadow in January of 2011. After a while, she found that the sales industry had become all about machines and technology, and it was no longer people-oriented like it was when she had first started out.

She found out about the opening at Glenmeadow because of the volunteer work she does with Trouble, her four year old Malamute, certified therapy dog. She got her first pet Malamute seventeen years ago, and today she has seven, which are all from the same family. She started volunteering with Trouble at The Overlook Life Care Community in Charlton in the dementia and Alzheimer unit. She found the work really rewarding, and eventually started volunteering with Trouble at Glenmeadow, which lead to her current job here. 

In addition to volunteering with her dogs, she also does shows, sledding, and occasional racing. She goes for hikes with them and packs them with hiking gear and supplies, and they even do weight pulls. Trouble does canine agility, which includes obstacle courses with see-saws, A-frames, and jumps. Her favorite place to sled with her dogs is Dennison State Park in Winchendon because they have well-maintained trails that are perfect for the dogs. 

Lisa has been happily married to her husband for over thirty years. They live in Wales, where they enjoy the company of Trouble and her companions.