Brain Wave Café Recreation Ast. (Locations: Bowmanville, Port Perry, Oshawa)

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Brain-wave Café

Minimum Age: 14

Reports To: Recreation Program Coordinator

Position Summary: Dementia Cafés provide a safe, comfortable and supportive environment for people with dementia and their care partners to socialize. The Cafés will offer a range of fun, educational, and engaging activities. Both caregivers and people with dementia will have the opportunity converse with people going through similar life experiences. Led by qualified specialists and supported by local volunteers, these regular social groups improve well-being and reduce isolation for entire families. New friendships are often formed and people who attend leave the sessions feeling connected and renewed.

Role Responsibilities / Tasks

Some of the tasks you might be asked to assist with as a Dementia Café volunteer include (but are not limited to):

• Provide support to qualified specialists, or the designated group leader
• Review content for each session to assist with presenting the daily program/agenda.
• Answering questions about other Alzheimer’s Society programs.
• Foster a safe and inviting environment for guests to share their experiences.
• Engage with guests, listen to stories and experiences.

Skills, Knowledge and Competencies:

• Adaptability and creativity - all guests are unique and may require a different type of interaction in order to benefit from the program.
• Patience - depending on the stage of Alzheimer’s, some guests may take more time to express thoughts or complete tasks.
• Teamwork - interact with other volunteers and the group leader to deliver the desired program and outcomes.
• Leadership and communication - foster an inclusive environment where participants engage in informal social interactions resulting in a feeling of reduced isolation.
• Willing to learn
• Open to developing new skills related to working with people who have Alzheimer’s disease.

Required Qualifications:

• Means of transportation to and from Café venues.
• Vulnerable Sector Check (recent within the last 12 months)

Environment / Conditions:

• Highly social and interactive
• Indoors
• Sitting and standing
• Engaging with people who have dementia and Alzheimer’s, their care partners, and families.

Screening Process:

• You are invited to "sign-up" for this activity if you have both the appropriate set of skills and interest to help in this capacity.
• Interview, reference check, Vulnerable Sector Check

Training/Orientation:

• In house training will be provided, both prior to volunteering, and ongoing support.
• General orientation (Alzheimer and dementia specific content)
  • The volunteer will receive training in the basics of brain health, reducing risk of dementia, and overview of dementia care, and coping strategies
  • Complete training and mentorship (specific to the Ambassador position)
    • The volunteer will have the opportunity to be mentored at several health and wellness events before managing a booth independently

Dates and Time Commitment:

• Flexible - volunteers can choose sessions based on personal availability
• 1.5 hour sessions
• Preparation time before sessions to review learning and discussion materials

Supervision:

• Knowledge, activities, games, ideas, etc. that volunteers possess may be shared should they be applicable and appropriate to participants at Cafés.

Evaluation/Success Measures

• Opportunity to take on a leadership role

Benefits:

• Improve well-being and reduce isolation for whole families
• New friendships are often formed
• Provide an opportunity for people with AD to have a higher quality of life
• Continue practicing your developed skill sets
• Interact with volunteers that share similar interests
• Provide a much needed and highly valued service within the community

Contact Information:

• Matt Brooks: Volunteer Program Coordinator

volunteer@alzheimerdurham.com 905. 576. 2567 Ext. 2535

• For questions about program logistics contact Laura Clements

lclements@alzheimerdurham.com 905. 576. 2567 Ext. 5238