Volunteer LaRue McAllister

LaRue McAllister is a retired RN of 30 years working in various fields of healthcare. She worked at the Missouri Veterans Home, Cape County Health Department, and finally ending up at SEMO Alliance of Disability Independence (SADI), where she spent seven years before retiring in 2014.

One Sunday at church, the message was “Find Your Purpose.” LaRue thought a lot about those words and kept asking herself, “what is my purpose?” Matthew 7:7 says “Ask, and God will give to you. Search and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you.” LaRue asked God to help her find her purpose. Soon after, LaRue opened the Southeast Missourian and there was an article about the Ombudsman Program. Then she saw something on TV about the Ombudsman Program and knew this was her sign. She called Aging Matters and asked for the Ombudsman Program. A voice came on the line and said, “This is Emily.” LaRue responded with, “Emily?” and Emily’s response was “LaRue?” Emily and LaRue had worked together a number of years ago at SADI.

LaRue is very blessed to be in a facility where you cannot only feel the love, but you can see it from the entire staff. She has become such an asset to the Ombudsman Program and sets a wonderful example for up-and-coming volunteers. This year LaRue McAllister received the Aging Matters Star Award for the Ombudsman Program for outstanding dedication to advocating for Senior’s living in a long-term care setting.