Urgent appeal made for Alzpals volunteers

WICKLOW Dementia Support is making an urgent appeal for volunteers for Alzpals befriending service for people with dementia. With the current lockdown and the fact that they support a vulnerable community, the organisation is in great need of more volunteers.

The befriending service is for those in the early stages of dementia, who require friendship and stimulation.

It also supports the carer by providing a break for them.

WDS is a charity operated and staffed by volunteers to help families living with dementia in County Wicklow. Their driving force is to help those with dementia retain as much independence as possible and for them to remain in their homes for as long as possible.

One of the services they provide is a befriending programme, AlzPals, whereby they match a volunteer with a person living with dementia for weekly visits. Online training and Garda vetting will be provided for volunteers. Such volunteers would be spending two to three hours per week with their friend.

WDS is still offering virtual support, Zoom music sessions, WhatsApp chat groups, a phone call service and support groups to keep connected to their growing community.

All training and support for volunteers is done with strict adherence to public health guidelines.

‘We need many more volunteers to be trained up and running for when all our in-person activities resume,’ said a spokesperson for WDS.

To get involved, contact volunteer coordinator Jenny on info@wicklowdementiasupport.org.