Hearts in action: how volunteers transform dementia care

Volunteers play a vital role in creating a more compassionate and supportive environment for people living with dementia and their care partners. By offering their time and attention volunteers provide thoughtful companionship and meaningful activity. They also provide respite for care partners, allowing them moments to rest, attend to personal tasks, or simply recharge. In doing so, volunteers become trusted allies who strengthen the overall support network around those living with dementia.

The Nav-CARE curriculum now includes a module that addresses supporting persons living with dementia and their care partners. Our partner organizations have been actively training volunteers in this expanded role and we spoke to four volunteers from the Bruce Peninsula Hospice to talk about their experiences supporting this population.

The volunteers talked about how comprehensive training equipped them with the skills needed to communicate effectively and sensitively. As one volunteer shared: “My mom had dementia, and after I had the training, I realised that I was saying the wrong things. Not intentionally of course – asking her questions that would baffle her. So, even if you don’t want to volunteer, if there’s anyone in your life that has dementia, any kind of training, take that bit of time. You’ll be so much more comfortable speaking with people who are living with dementia.”

Another volunteer mentioned that even when a person is unable to carry on a conversation, volunteers can still be a compassionate presence – honouring the emotions behind utterances or gestures, entering into the person’s world and meeting them where they are at in the moment. Another volunteer shared how she helped the person connect to the world around them through talking about the activities going on around – describing the physical and social environment.

At the heart of volunteer engagement is person-directed care, which emphasizes understanding each individual’s history, preferences, and abilities. “I leave it up to whatever the individual wants to do…they are the leaders of the interaction,” voiced a volunteer. This means that rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, volunteers learn about favorite hobbies, past professions, and cherished memories. When activities are aligned with what truly matters to the individual, moments of connection and joy naturally emerge. A volunteer shared a story: “ I had a client that I will never forget. She was past the point of conversation, but she could sing. And I learned this…I noticed a nurse playing a song on her phone and she [the client] sang it! It was beautiful. So, I thought, “oh, she likes to sing.” So, every time I went, I noticed that she knew every old hymn that I could play. The Old Rugged Cross – she sang so loud, the staff from across the hall came and said ‘what?!’.”

While the work can be challenging, these volunteers are an extraordinary testimony to compassionate relationships – simply brightening a day, evoking a smile, or easing a family’s burden is a real success: “I’m there to make their life a little more pleasant, maybe put a smile on their face, get them to laugh. If I can do that, I’ve been successful.” Families have shared how empowered and comforted they feel by the support they receive from the volunteers. As a result, volunteer engagement is a beacon of hope – reminding us that human connection can promote dignity, spark joy, and strengthen the network of relations.

You can learn more about the Nav-CARE volunteer training at the upcoming CHPCA Conference in Nanaimo, British Columbia! Join us for a pre-conference symposium on October 23^rd from 8 AM – 12P M where you will develop an understanding of the relationship of volunteer navigation to the compassionate community movement, learn about the role of a volunteer navigator, and learn about the key competencies addressed in the Nav-CARE curriculum. Registration for this symposium and be found here: https://www.chpca.ca/conference-events/conference/symposiums/nav-care-symposium/

If you’re interested in learning more about Nav-CARE, visit our website: www.nav-care.ca or drop us an email: [email protected]