The Joys of Volunteering
You are no doubt reading this post because you either have a loved one who is experiencing dementia or have a heart for dementia patients. You care enough to care for others.
All Bristol House Memory Care staff receive specialized training in caring for those with cognitive needs, and all care plans, activities, meals, and other facets of resident life, have been designed around the best practices in dementia care. They are true professionals. However, you don’t have to be a professional to help care for dementia patients or call attention to the needs and advances in the memory care field.
Hear the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. — “Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve…. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
There are many ways you can volunteer to make a positive difference in a patient’s alternate world. Here are a few simple suggestions. You can do more research to find opportunities in your area.
- Special events — There are many healthcare fairs and seminars held in various locations at various times. You could help set up and tend a display table or hand out literature or whatever is needed. No expertise required!
- Walking — Put on your sneaks and participate in a walk to raise funds for research. This is not a marathon, but it is a race against the clock to fund treatments for Alzheimer’s.
- Advocacy — If you feel strongly about the need for dementia research and support, and enjoy exercising your political rights, you could contact your government officials about topics such as increasing funding for research, care planning services, and increasing awareness of access to services for caregivers and patients alike.
- Clinical trials — Treatments and medications don’t just magically appear out of nowhere; they are tested on patients in real-life situations. Yes, there are risks involved, so talk with your doctor about the opportunities. Patients generally benefit from the increased level of care during a trial, and the results can provide hope for generations to come.
- Community education — Volunteers are needed to spread the word about the world of dementia care. Most people have a network of family-, work-, hobby-, and faith-based relationships. These are fruitful fields for discussions, presentations, and seminars.
Taking care of a dementia patient requires time, energy, and a heart. Volunteering to help others beyond your own circumstances takes the same. “You may not have saved a lot of money in your life, but if you have saved a lot of heartaches for other folks, you are a pretty rich man.”
~Seth Parker
The mission of Bristol House Memory Care is to provide excellent care to residents and offer peace-of-mind to family members. Our vision is to be the memory care community of choice for families affected with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. In the spirit of open communication, we work together with families to create a culture at Bristol House Memory Care based on respect and dignity for all individuals. Our expertise in advanced care practices and commitment to ongoing training ensures that we will provide unsurpassed quality of care.