Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Deacon Donald Masterson has been recognized by Catholic Charities of Louisville for more than 25 years of volunteer service to nursing home residents. Masterson, 85, who was ordained as a deacon in 1976, currently spends about 60 hours each month visiting three nursing homes as a "friendly visitor" with the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.

Before becoming a deacon, Masterson said he had not volunteered. “I was kind of a homebody. I stayed home,” he said in a recent interview.

Despite being retired from formal ministry, Masterson continues his weekly visits to nursing homes, engaging with residents in various ways. He spends five to fifteen minutes with each resident, sometimes chatting at their door, watching sports together, or helping with small requests such as bringing water or cough drops.

“Don knows how much a warm conversation, shared laugh and sustained friendship can mean to someone who does not normally receive visitors,” said Jamie Barnes, associate Long-Term Care Ombudsman coordinator, in his nomination. “Whether it’s comforting a resident who is distressed, enjoying a shared silence with a resident no longer able to communicate verbally or telling jokes with a gathered group, Don embodies the ‘friend’ part of the Friendly Visitor program.”

“I enjoy what I do. I very seldom miss,” Masterson said. “These people are my friends. I love these people.”

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at Catholic Charities includes both friendly visitors and certified volunteer ombudsmen. Friendly visitors provide companionship and social activities for long-term care residents through regular visits, while certified ombudsmen advocate for improvements in residents’ overall care.

Masterson has served in both roles but currently participates as a friendly visitor. He noted that his experiences over the past 25 years have changed him. “All of these people change me. I take them with me.”

He also acknowledged some of the challenges faced by residents, such as physical illness, mental health issues, and grief. He includes them in his morning prayers and sometimes asks for intercession from the Blessed Mother and St. Jude.

Masterson highlighted the importance of volunteer presence in nursing homes, noting that it can have an impact on how residents are treated by staff. “Sadly, in some facilities, people don’t get treated right, they really don’t,” he said.

He will receive the Deacon Scott Haner Volunteer of the Year Award at Catholic Charities’ volunteer appreciation event on October 23. The award recognizes volunteers who show commitment to the organization’s mission and inspire others to serve.

For more information about volunteering with Catholic Charities’ Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, including how to become a friendly visitor or certified volunteer ombudsman, visit cclou.org/volunteer or contact Debbie Belt at dbelt@archlou.org or 637-9786, ext. 115.