Volunteering with Age Concern

Oops, I think that should read Age UK. ?

I once volunteered to read to people in a local geriatric ward. Unfortunately I was sent to one lady when Coronation Street was on, she was not keen!
The people I find very helpful when I have hospital appointment are the volunteers in the reception area. To be greeted with a smile and an offer of help is great. It's good that someone cares enough to be there. I hope you find the right volunteer role at your local hospital.
If the automatic check in is confusing they advise and, on occasion, have even accompanied me to the right clinic waiting area. That is in a huge and confusing building.

jsd, I volunteered with Age Concern, as it was then, for about 10 years and only stopped because the funding for the scheme I was on ended. It was some years ago but I enjoyed volunteering with them. I didn't do hospital visiting, but I cannot see that would be as difficult as volunteering with the CAB.

The thing to remember is that many of the old people you visit will have some measure of dementia. The thing to do is join them. No, I do not mean develop dementia, but I looked after an aunt and uncle with dementia for a while and sometimes their misunderstandings of life around them led to some interesting conversations. My aunt always called the home manager 'the commandant' because he reminded her of the Colonel at one army base they had been stationed at so she was convinced that the care home was an army facility. I never tried to disabuse her of this belief and when discussing where she was living we always did it in military terms. It is easier to share their world rather than try to get them to live in our world.

I have just volunteered to ageuk and they cannot help as the local authority has stopped funding them.

Funding is always a big issue with charities and volunteering it seems, no matter in what area they operate. I have had my “ interview” and they seem very keen to have any help they can get - it’s all about supporting people who are undergoing a period of rehabilitation before they return home. Most people I met seemed very frightened as to how they would cope when they went home - so sad.

That actually sounds quite stressful, jam, if you are likely to worry about the people you have met.
At least if they are being rehabilitated they won't have advanced dementia, though, so communication will be easier.

FarNorth I did meet a couple of people with dementia - maybe they have partners at home who care for them. Starting my first stint tomorrow afternoon, looking forward to it.

Best of luck!

Hello there. According to me, volunteering is one of the best things that one can experience once in the lifetime, which gives an opportunity to bring positive change in a society. I haven't volunteered yet, but one of my friends has shared a great an experience of volunteering with mission humanitaire ( www.mission-humanitaire-afrique.org ) and also suggested me to join as a volunteer to support the non-profit organization and aid the needy people.

Did you get started with volunteering for Age UK and if so how are is it going?