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OPPORTUNITIES
There are lots of opportunities for volunteers to help out in our Bradbury Centre – our innovative purpose-built centre for people with dementia and their carers.
These include:
- helping in reception, in the coffee shop, or the restaurant area
- as a mini bus driver
- helping people with dementia enjoy a particular hobby
- helping people develop an interest in local history or
- reminiscing about their war-time experiences.
People with dementia have often been active members of their communities in the past, and just need a little help to make them feel worthwhile and useful members of the community again. A volunteer can be part of that feel good factor. The volunteers name may not be remembered, (that ‘s one of the symptoms of dementia) but the smile of recognition and the lifting of someone’s shoulders as they recognise that the volunteer was the instigator of happy times in the past, cannot be measured.
ACTIVITIES
There are many activities you can be involved – gardening, golf practice, swimming, flower arranging, computer club, aromatherapy, reminiscence and life history work, painting/drawing and craftwork, sewing & knitting – (squares to make blankets for abandoned pets), singing, dancing, carpet bowls, cooking /cake decorating.
All these activities can be enhanced with volunteer input.
If Bradbury Centre in Brunswick Village is not a convenient location, we have the same activities at our other Day Activity Centre in Benwell, Newcastle.
BEFRIENDER
Alternatively, if a person would like to volunteer to help but would be happier in a one-to-one situation he/she could visit someone with dementia in their own home to have a chat or a cup of tea, accompany them on a walk, or special shopping trip. The visit could be made on the way to or from the volunteers’ workplace. There is no need for a volunteer to give out a home address as all contact will be through DCP.
It can be an extremely lonely and bewildering experience when you develop dementia, in any form. Losing short term memory requires gentle prompts and reminders to help the person to live in their own home for as long as possible, which is, and always has been, one of DCP’s priorities.
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
There is no need for a volunteer to feel “I wouldn’t know where to start” because we will give training in what it can be like, living with dementia. We will be on hand to offer advice and back-up and will try to match the volunteer’s skills with the right person, or job.
I’D LIKE TO HELP BUT HAVE NOT MUCH TIME TO SPARE
We only ask for a small time commitment on your behalf (one to two hours a week - or a 2 hour slot once a month for example) and volunteers will be surprised just how much satisfaction and enjoyment can be gained.
DAY TRIPS
There are occasions when we take clients out on trips in a mini-bus to various places of interest in the region, and we are always looking for volunteers to assist our support workers. Our volunteers will not be expected to be left to cope on their own on such trips, nor are we expecting volunteers to be involved in any personal care tasks, at any time. The role is purely a social one, such as a friend or helpful neighbour might perform.
If any of this strikes a chord with you, and you would like to find out more, please contact our Volunteer Support or e-mail volunteers@dementiacare.org.uk or telephone Chris McGuire for a confidential chat on +44 (0) 191 217 3302.
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