With National Volunteer Week underway, the Alzheimer Society of B.C. is calling on Delta. White Rock and Surrey residents to support people living with dementia by becoming volunteers.
While the number of people living with dementia in B.C. is more than 85,000, that number is estimated to rise to nearly 134,000 by 2030. To address this growing need, the organization is encouraging more people to volunteer and help support people living with the disease and their caregivers.
Among those who have put their hands up is Donna Gallagher, a shining example of how volunteers can make a difference even in the face of their own health complications.
After reading that the Alzheimer Society of B.C. was expanding to more than 70 support groups that would need caring, empathetic people to serve as facilitators, Gallagher saw an opportunity to give back to the community. Facilitating a virtual support group gives her the flexibility to manage her health while still contributing her time and expertise to support people affected by dementia.
Prior to volunteering, she participated in the caregiver support group while both her parents lived with the disease.
“The support group gave me others to connect with, we were all on the dementia journey and learned so much from each other,” she said.
Another outstanding volunteer is Annemarie Travers, who has been with the Society since 2016. She has facilitated programs, helped run outreach booths and volunteered with Breakfast to Remember.
Travers has also used her passion for long-distance walking as an opportunity to raise awareness for dementia. Most recently she and her husband raised around $13,000 after they walked just over 800 km from Lodève, France to Puente la Reina, Spain during their Camino for Alzheimer's Awareness walk.
Now a support group facilitator, Travers says volunteering helps her stay grounded and allows her to better understand the dementia journey.
The Alzheimer Society of B.C. is currently in need of in-person and virtual support group volunteers for its early-stage and caregiver support group programs. Support group facilitator volunteers play an essential role in providing emotional and practical support to people living with dementia and to caregivers. They people share experiences, learn new coping strategies and gain insight into the disease.
“Our support group facilitators are an integral part of the Alzheimer Society of B.C.'s mission to support people affected by dementia,” said Avalon Tournier, Support & Education Coordinator, First Link for the Alzheimer Society of B.C.'s South Fraser region. “We are looking for individuals who are empathetic, good listeners, and have excellent communication skills and can facilitate a safe and supportive environment for caregivers or people living with dementia to share their experiences and feelings in a safe space.”
To learn more about volunteering with the Alzheimer Society of B.C., visit alzbc.org/volunteering.
