It’s Roger Klossner’s job to be a good listener.

Mostly, the needs of his patients at Valley Health Services require little more than a “friendly ear,” said Klossner, the pastoral liaison at the home.

And sometimes, they just seek comfort.

“When they reach toward the end stage, one of the main concerns is ‘Have I lived all this time and never made a difference in my life? Did I make a difference?’” Klossner said.

 At 83 years old, the former Methodist pastor and chiropractor with a master’s degree in psychology seems the perfect person to answer such questions. He recently received an honorable mention in the national “Celebrate Age Exhibit,” where a jury selected 50 stories for a multimedia exhibit featured at the 2011 LeadingAge Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.,

“Maybe some of the people around here realize they can still have importance in their lives; they can make a difference, too,” Klossner said. “If you just say hello and good morning that can make a difference or smile, and I think that maybe they see that through me. Hopefully.”

What they also might see is a man who has dedicated his life to helping people.

For 50 years, Klossner helped people physically in his chiropractic practice. It was there that he realized he also had an interest in people’s psychological health.

“As a chiropractor, you’re listening to people,” he said. “It’s not all just physical complaints. You have to be aware that we’re all connected; we’re not just individual parts, much like the body.”

Fueled by that interest, he received his master’s degree in psychology about 20 years ago. He was in his 60s, but has found the degree beneficial personally as well as professionally.

“I’ve learned some things now I wished I knew when I was 3 years old,” he said, laughing.

The degree has likewise been helpful in his longtime role as pastor for various local Methodist churches.

Up until a couple years ago, Klossner was chaplain for the Folts Home in Herkimer. Before then, he ministered at United Church of Christ in Munnsville and other local congregations.

Before his appointment as pastoral liaison at Valley Health Services, he acted as an ombudsman for the network. He accepted the pastoral liaison position last May after two years as ombudsman.

Retirement never really fit into his life – except when putting new tires on his car, he joked.

“I’ve seen too many who can’t wait to retire, to sit down and do nothing, and don’t last very long,” he said. “You have to have a purpose to get up in the morning. Otherwise you start to shut down.”

 And Klossner has no plans of shutting down just yet.

“My plan is to get through today and hopefully get through tomorrow,” he said. “My major plan would be to continue to help making a difference in people’s life. A positive difference.”