Befriender and Support for Older People

The role of a care home volunteer is to improve and enhance the health, wellbeing and lives of the residents. A key part of this volunteer role will be to provide company and support to residents within the home. This role is not a substitute for paid work, but will greatly compliment the work the staff at the home do.

Main tasks (these will be defined by the volunteer leader when you start):

• Befriending – talking to residents and helping them reminisce, talk about their interests and families
• Helping residents join in activities that are tailored to their abilities using the PAL resource.
• Accompanying residents on short trips outside the home with the staff
• Supporting residents to continue their hobbies that staff may not be able to help with, such as knitting, crocheting, gardening, painting etc,

Skills

• Patient, empathic and caring nature
• Good listener
• Ability and willingness to work in a team
• Ability to communicate with those who may have complex support needs
• Non judgmental
• Able to adapt to situations, behaviours and moods
• Previous experience of supporting people with dementia is beneficial but you will be supported with basic training and lots of guidance anyway
• Additional skills that would be useful would be; Music, Art, Gardening

No experience of helping older people is necessary, however, if you feel you have specific skill that would benefit the home then please discuss this with the volunteer lead.