Become a Memory Care Volunteer with McLean, and help support those in our community who are living with dementia and their caregivers.
McLean’s memory care volunteers are a close-knit group of caring individuals who provide a range of non-medical services to those with memory impairment. “Our volunteers are the sources of meaningful care for the clients but also much-needed support for the clients’ caregivers and families—that little break that the volunteers provide means so much,” says McLean’s Director of Assisted Living Ann Pavano.
Volunteer services may include providing one-to-one social interaction, sharing a passion for a hobby such as music or art, helping to write someone’s life history with them, reading aloud or simply engaging in much-needed conversation and companionship. The frequency of the visits will vary depending upon client needs and volunteer availability.
McLean provides volunteers with an orientation and training. The training includes an in-person interview, plus two four-hour classes featuring presentations from expert guest speakers on a wide range of relevant topics. Volunteers also gain a practical understanding of the work through a mentoring program and are encouraged to participate in valuable monthly in-service training on timely and useful subjects.
McLean’s Memory Care Training Program was developed through a partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association and was the first program of its kind in the country.
The Memory Care Training Program will take place on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McLean’s Health Center, 75 Great Pond Road, Simsbury. For more information or to register for the program, call Ann Pavano at 860-658-3941 by Sept. 20, or visit Care.org/assisted-living/memory-care/ to download an application.