Enriching experiences: The vital role of Minds in Motion® volunteers

April 14 – 20, 2024, is National Volunteer Week and the theme is “Every moment matters.” As an organization that was started by volunteers, the Alzheimer Society of B.C. is proud to celebrate every volunteer and their unique contribution to improve the lives of people on the dementia journey. With the number of British Columbians living with dementia rising, we need the support of volunteers more than ever.

Minds in Motion® is a fitness and social program for people living with any form of early-stage dementia to attend with a family member, friend or other care partner. Gentle exercises are followed by social activities designed to be enjoyed in pairs. The popular program is supported by staff and volunteers who help set up sessions, facilitate activities and connect with participants.

“Volunteers bring the energy up because they really want to be there,” says Lyanne Hui, a Minds in Motion® Coordinator in Richmond. “They make a big difference.”

Minds in Motion® volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some are students studying science, hoping to gain more experience on their path to a career as a health-care professional, others have been personally affected by dementia and want to contribute their time and skills to provide a safe space for participants to exercise and connect with people on the dementia journey. Each volunteer brings a unique skillset to their role that enriches the experience for people living with dementia and their care partners.

When volunteers are involved with a Minds in Motion® series, staff have more capacity to support and connect with participants and people living with dementia and caregivers have more opportunities to ask questions and gain insight. Sometimes, a volunteer’s background and skillset can meet the needs of participants in ways they might not foresee.
 

“In one series, we had two Korean-speaking participants who were struggling to participate,” says Celia Toews, a Minds in Motion® Coordinator in the Fraser region. “The volunteer also spoke Korean and was able to talk to them and connect on a deeper level. They taught me a lot about how to connect with someone experiencing a language barrier.”

Mary Beth Rutherford is a Minds in Motion® Coordinator in Penticton and on her first day on the job in 2019, a man walked through the door and offered to help. He told Mary Beth that he had family members that lived with dementia and he wanted to do something to make the experience better for people. After receiving training, he started volunteering and has been assisting with sessions ever since. 

“Volunteers are partners in the experience,” Mary Beth says. “They are ambassadors in the community. Minds in Motion® has been able to expand because we have volunteers sharing their experience.”

Participants in the program feel connected to volunteers — they know their names and they listen to them share their experiences. Their invaluable contributions help the Alzheimer Society of B.C. meet the needs of more people affected by dementia.

“I’m continually impacted by how grateful participants are that we’re able to offer a program that meets their needs and helps them feel cared for,” Celia says. “A participant once told me that every time they leave a session, they feel like they matter. Volunteers are a vital part of that.”