Assistant to Facilitator

Keywords

Dementia Care Groups Listening Skills Older People Socialising

Description

Cogs clubs are for people with mild to moderate cognitive impairment

TYPICAL DAY IN A COGS CLUB

Introduction about 10am:

Welcome all members individually to the club, by name. Involve everyone in a discussion about the name of the club. Following this there is a short session of orientation.  This is followed by a discussion about some things currently in the newspapers or on TV or the radio etc. This is basically a language session.

There is a tea break about 11.00am, which is get to know each other time

Theme 11.30 after which there is an activity which is based on one of the 14 themes of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy.  Three activities are usually planned for this session. One could be on the board for example asking members for foods going through A-Z, the second on food could be a discussion about food  and the third could be a word search (word search is often the last part of this session (so it gives facilitators time to prepare for lunch)

Lunch break about 12.30 pm During the lunch break (a light sandwich lunch) members are encouraged to socialise with each other

The afternoon session, movement to music starts about 1.15 pm.  The session is seated movements to music, rather like the Hokey Cokey, but more modern

Last session, concentration games, starts about 1.45pm. Members choose what activity they would like to end the afternoon with. This will be games like Dominoes, Cards or Scrabble. 

The day ends with tea and biscuits around 2.30pm, where members read the summary of their day and discuss how the day went for them

All members have departed by 3.00 pm.

Volunteers can assist with all aspects of the day depending on their skills and interest in working with people living with dementia.

What rewards come with volunteering, and how does it create meaningful change?

Volunteering offers a wide range of personal, professional, and social benefits. Facilitators at Cogs Club have told us that they have gained new skills, built up their confidence and feel they are making a difference to a neglected group in our community. 

For some volunteers it has added depth to their CV, and in some cases they have found jobs in this sector.

Requirements

Patience, ability to read and write, listening skills, practical skills such as making tea. Mobile without aids, as the space is limited and volunteers move around the room assisting people at the table with their activities.

Experience of working with older people and/or people living with dementia, will benefit the volunteer in their interactions with the members.