A dementia buddy volunteer Is a specially trained volunteer who has a good understanding of dementia and knows how to engage positively with patients who have dementia. They provide friendship, conversation and activities.
When you volunteer to support our patients with dementia, you can be involved in:
- providing companionship - many of our patients with dementia like to chat and reminisce
- engaging in activities to help maintain cognitive capabilities - we have activity boxes and games on our wards and day rooms
- helping patients to eat and drink - many people with dementia don't recognise hunger and thirst and sometimes they find it difficult to use cutlery. Our volunteers play a really important role in prompting patients to drink regularly and some of our volunteers chose to help at mealtimes.
All of our volunteers are supported with a comprehensive training package including
- health and safety
- infection prevention
- safeguarding
To find out how you can get involved please contact a member of our volunteer team.