Side by Side - the proof is in the pudding!
For a number of months volunteers across Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale have been taking people with dementia out and about so that they can continue to feel part of the community which they live in; to keep doing the things they love and have done in the past. Activities have varied from cups of tea (many cups of tea and a lot of cake) to vintage car drives. From bicycle rides along Scarborough beach front to swimming in a leisure centre and shopping trips to Leeds.
Once in a while something amazing and moving happens, for example one service user used to be a good swimmer, and with one thing and another hadn't been able to get to the pool for years. One morning her and her volunteer went to the ladies only session at the local leisure centre. The staff were amazing and helpful. Watching someone rediscover the water, the sensation of floating with no aches and pains and seeing the peace and happiness on her service user’s face was fantastic for our volunteer. They plan to go at some point but in the meantime there is all that coast line to explore, coffee to drink and laughs to be had!
Another, recent success story (also to do with swimming) is that of one of our service users who had abandoned all the activities she had enjoyed doing prior to having Alzheimer’s. Her volunteer regularly talks to her and her family about her previous activities. One particular conversation surrounded the enjoyment she had derived from very regularly swimming. On a recent outing, she wanted to look inside a recently opened Leisure Centre. After having coffee she looked at the facilities and decided she would like to try to the pool. The following week when our volunteer called for her, she had with her a bag with her swimming kit and was raring to go. She completed 20 lengths of the pool without even looking like she had made any effort at all. Her volunteer could see the spark of pleasure swimming and renewed knowledge that she was still able to swim had given her. There is also promise of further visits to the pool.
It just goes to show that with a little encouragement and support, our service users can re-establish loved activities and bring back the spark of fun in their lives.
One of our carer’s summed it up with …” my husband really enjoys going out with his volunteer. He especially enjoys going to places where he used to go and enjoys a change of company” .
Not only do our service users get enormous benefit from this service, but so do our volunteers.
From a volunteer …“I really enjoy volunteering for Side By Side. I get the satisfaction of knowing that my gentlemen have enjoyed getting out and about; seeing different places rather than being stuck in their own homes. They enjoy the change to male company and being able to have a conversation with someone other than their carers. Taking my gentlemen out and about is not difficult and is easy to do. I’m happy to do it.”
One of our younger volunteers has this to say about volunteering for Side By Side...
”The Side By Side service is great, it's really flexible and I can work it around my own personal life really easily. It's a nice way for me to feel like I've given something back to the community and having fun while I do it. The person I take out always seems to enjoy getting out and about and he can teach me more about Scarborough than any history lesson could!”
We cannot begin to express the importance and impact that our volunteers have on the lives of people with dementia. However, we could do with so many more.
We would love to support even more people to do the things they love but we need many more volunteers to do so. If you think this is for you or if you would like more information you can contact Colleen and Bernie on 01723 500953 or . By donating a few hours to fit in with your own and the service users’ schedules, and by doing something that you love, you will be ensuring that people living with Dementia continue to gain as much pleasure from their lives as possible.