- Pat Quinn (left) takes a picture of Don Bicksler as he takes a turn steering the City of Fredericksburg riverboat. View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

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GOOD DEEDS GETTING SENIORS OUT, ABOUT Volunteers help banish the blues THE PROGRAM

Mental Health America of Fredericksburg's senior visitors program adds some cheer for folks who can't get out much

Date published: 7/2/2007

BY LUCIA ANDERSON

A look of contentment spreads across Don Bicksler's face as he watches the banks of the Rappahannock River slide by.

The 63-year-old is sitting on the upper deck of the City of Fredericksburg riverboat, cruising toward Caroline County.

The man sitting across the table from him deserves some of the credit for Bicksler's presence.

Pat Quinn scribbles a hasty "heron" on a small dry-erase board, showed it to Bicksler, then points to a tree along the bank. Sure enough, a great blue heron is eyeing the boat disdainfully.

Bicksler is profoundly deaf; the little note board is the only way Quinn can communicate with him.

"He doesn't read lips very well, and he doesn't know sign language," Quinn says of Bicksler.

Quinn is a volunteer with the senior visitor program run by Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.

The boat trip is one of a series of outings Quinn has organized to give Bicksler experiences he has never had before. Others have been a ride on Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg and trips to play pool and miniature golf. This month he hopes to take Bicksler horseback riding.

"Pat Quinn has been a lifesaver," says Barbara Bicksler, Don's sister. He has been living with her in Spotsylvania County for the last two years. Other members of the family don't take much interest in Don, she said.

Barbara Bicksler works at Ukrop's, so her brother is on his own a great deal of the time. Outings with Quinn brighten his life. There are lots of things he hasn't had a chance to do, Barbara Bicksler explains. He lived with their mother before she died, and, because people made fun of him, she kept him fairly close.

"After Mother got to a certain age, she wouldn't let Donnie do anything," Barbara Bicksler says.

Although Don Bicksler is over 60, he isn't otherwise typical of those in the senior visitor program, which is designed to relieve the isolation of older folks who can't get around much on their own any more.

Bicksler gets around. He has memorized all the FREDericksburg Regional Transit bus routes, according to his sister, and makes daily trips to places like Spotsylvania Towne Centre, Central Park and the train station.

Mental Health America of Fredericksburg's senior visitor program The program serves between 45 to 50 older people at any one time. Since the program's inception in March 2000, 279 older residents and 204 volunteers have been on the rolls. The greatest need is for male volunteers and for volunteers to visit in the more outlying areas like King George and Caroline counties. The program serves those over 60 living in private homes or assisted-living facilities. For more information, call Teresa Bowers at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg at 540/371-2704.

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Date published: 7/2/2007