Volunteering: Meaningful Contributions by People with

Dementia

Tara Stringfellow BSc (Psych) Honsand Desirée de Graaf BSW

Alzheimer’s Australia WA Ltd

Early Stage DementiaClients may experience a loss of:

• Meaning and purpose

• Independence

• Self esteem

They may feel:

• They have nothing useful to contribute

• Frustrated about changing abilities

Aim

• Increase self esteem and quality of life for people

with early stage dementia

• Increase awareness and understanding about

dementia in the organisation and wider community.

Participants• Six clients

– four males and two females

– were identified through the Early Intervention

program

– have an awareness and acceptance of their diagnosis

of dementia

Case Study: Tom• Diagnosed in 2009 at the age of 61

• Tom and Edwina joined our Early Intervention Program in February 2010

Explore and EngageExplore:

• Participants work history, interests and skills

• Potential positions

Engage:

• Organisation/s

• Support Worker

Measuring effectiveness• Interview participants and their support person:

• Self esteem

• Quality of life

• Meaningful contribution

• Ongoing feedback from those involved

Case Study: Tom• Volunteering at Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre since October 2010

Summary

• So far we have:

– Received positive feedback from participants, support

workers and the organisation's involved

– Continued to receive more expressions of interest

from clients wanting to be involved

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Tara Stringfellow, BSc (Psych) Hons

Has no real or apparent conflicts of interest to report.

Any questions?

If you would like to learn more about Kanyana please see:

www.kanyanawildlife.org.au

If you would like further information please email:

tara.stringfellow@alzheimers.asn.au