November 2022 May 2023
VOL. 32, 31, NO. 1 7 MAY NOVEMBER 2023 POWERED 2022 POWERED BY KAMLOOPS BY KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK THIS| A WEEK PROUD | A PROUD PART OFPART ABERDEEN OF ABERDEEN PUBLISHING PUBLISHING
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Support those living with dementia through volunteering
W
ith National Volunteer Week behind us, the Alzheimer Society of B.C. is calling on Central Interior residents to support people living with dementia by becoming volunteers. While the number of people living with dementia in B.C. is over 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.” 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 longdistance 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 earlystage 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 help 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,” says Tara Hildebrand, Support & Education Coordinator, First Link® for the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s Central
Interior 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 and people living with dementia to share their experiences and feelings in a safe space.” The Society is calling on the community to support its programs by becoming volunteers. Volunteering with the Society is a meaningful and rewarding way to give back to the community and help make a difference in the lives of people affected by dementia. To learn more about volunteering with the Alzheimer Society of B.C., visit alzbc.org/ volunteering.
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