Supporting Clients with Memory Loss

Dementia and memory loss can be a taboo subject leaving many of us uncertain about how to communicate with the sufferer.

We have volunteers across the whole of the UK who understand the importance of individual support. They appreciate how difficult life can be when suffering from memory loss and volunteer an hour or so out of their week to visit a client in their own home.

Personalised training is provided to each volunteer. This covers all aspects of what to expect when carrying out the volunteering role. We provide ideas that would help to engage the client in the visit. Some may think that clients with memory loss would not benefit from a visitor. There has been research carried out to disprove this, as spending time with someone who shows compassion has been shown to improve the individual’s wellbeing.

AJR aims to improve the wellbeing of our clients and everyone who experiences memory loss can apply for a volunteer befriender.

We provide comprehensive training to equip the volunteer with the knowledge needed for their visit. The volunteer is then matched with their client by the project co-ordinator.

Every client is different, which makes every visit unique. Volunteers use a number of means to communicate with the client. There are a number of useful tools that volunteers can use when visiting a client that can ease anxiety and create a positive, relaxing environment. Some activities volunteers encourage are listening to music, playing a game, looking through photographs or chatting over a cup of tea.

The memory-loss befriending project helps to stimulate the client. The clients and families who use our befriending service have expressed gratitude to our volunteers. They see them as an asset, offering great comfort and support.

The memory-loss co-ordinators also arrange via Zoom a dementia-friendly poetry group and keep-fit class.