Forget-Me-Not volunteering
Forget-Me-Not volunteering gives you the opportunity to make a transformative impact. Regular social interaction significantly improves the wellbeing of those living with dementia and you’ll be a key support to staff and families. You’ll meet amazing people and make a big impact in your community.
Unfamiliar environments and ill health can make hospital visits particularly challenging moments for people living with dementia. A couple of hours of your time to regularly visit the hospital to talk, reassure, reminisce and chat to patients can be transformative. Forget-Me-Not volunteers support staff to provide companionship and engagement for patients with dementia.
One volunteer said: “Watching patients engage, share stories, and smile as they play games or solve puzzles together has been incredibly rewarding, helping them feel connected and less isolated.
“Forget-Me-Not volunteers will be able to concentrate on the person, giving time and showing patience which is very valuable when staff are so busy.
“Some people feel that they become invisible. Each time I volunteer on the ward I hear some of their wonderful stories and lives. It doesn’t take much to get folks talking, you always find a connection.”
What might you do as a Forget-Me-Not Volunteer?
- Offer reassurance and understanding
- Support staff to provide fun group activities
- Reminisce and listen to stories
- Read a book or magazine
- Share items that help to engage and calm
- Provide support to carers and families, sharing important information and signposting them to helpful services.
Use your skills
Our volunteers use their passions and skills to engage with patients. Do you have one of the below passions that you could share with someone else?
- Cycling enthusiast – Support staff to get patients peddling to support their movement and mobility during hospital stays with special equipment.
- Book worm – If you are an avid reader who loves to share their latest page turner with friends, you could be a Forget-Me-Not volunteer who offers to read books with patients and share stories.
- Musician – Music supports people’s wellbeing by reducing anxiety, increasing relaxation and happiness. Could you play some familiar music to patients?
- Happy singer – Singing can support memory, word recall and energy levels. Could you lead a sing-song?
- Master crafter – Do you love the wellbeing benefits of crafting and colouring and love to share creative ideas? You can do this as a Forget-Me-Not volunteer.
- Nail painter and pamperer – Do you love a good manicure and seeing the joy of well painted nails? Spend some time giving patients a treat to brighten up their day.
- News junky – Do you love keeping up with the news and sharing the latest stories with others? Take a paper to our dementia patients and chat with them about the news headlines from their past.
- Epic puzzler – Enjoy a good puzzle? Sharing games and activities can make a hospital stay more fun and engaging.
- Online gamer – Special, dementia friendly games and apps can support patient wellbeing.
If those roles aren’t quite for you, how about considering becoming a This Is Me Champion. This is an important role that checks that each patient has an up-to-date form which records details about a person who can’t easily share information about themselves and contacts families and friends if this form needs completing. It makes sure staff and volunteers know what the person likes, dislikes and has other key information about them.
Can you give a few hours to make a huge difference?
Get in touch for more information and to apply to join our team. Our volunteers undertake online Trust training and specialist dementia training so you’ll be equipped to make a difference. You’ll get all the support you need from Voluntary Services and the Dementia Team, so give us a call or email today.
Contact us
For more information and to have a chat about this important volunteering opportunity, please email Christian Cole, Dementia Volunteer Coordinator, or call 01582 718289 (Luton) or 01234 782213 (Bedford).
If you are a carer or family member, visit the Dementia Care page on the Trust website to find support from the hospital’s Dementia Team.
Find more information of how the charity supports Dementia Care on our website.