Estes Dementia Day Center (EDDC) recognizes its dedicated volunteers, who contribute significantly to providing specialized, person-centered care for local adults living with dementia. Averaging 28 to 30 individuals each week, these volunteers are essential to the day center's operations at The Haven, engaging guests in a wide array of activities designed to promote well-being and provide enriching experiences. This commitment to skilled support extends to rigorous, ongoing training for all staff and volunteers, ensuring consistent and effective interaction with those experiencing dementia.
Volunteers at EDDC perform numerous roles, from setting up the facility and warmly welcoming guests to fostering engaging social interactions. Their weekly contributions include sharing morning coffee and conversation, leading and participating in brain puzzles and crafts, facilitating gentle movement, playing music and leading songs, and organizing card and jigsaw puzzle games. They also assist with serving lunch, cleaning up, accompanying guests on walks, and leading Bingo sessions. A key aspect of their involvement is active listening, encouraging guests to share stories from their past, and creating an atmosphere filled with laughter and singing.
The foundation of this comprehensive support is a specialized training program. Prior to opening, EDDC investigated various training options to align with its vision, goals, and mission, recognizing the need for shared communication styles and approaches among all staff and volunteers. The organization ultimately adopted the person-centered approach, facilitated by Dementia Together out of Fort Collins.
Every staff member and volunteer at EDDC actively participates in the "Doing Dementia Together for Professionals" program. This training combines online modules with in-person sessions led by Dementia Together practitioners, ensuring a thorough and practical education. The leadership at EDDC emphasizes that this is not a one-time training; rather, it is a sustained learning journey. The team regularly revisits core concepts, refines new skills, and builds confidence through ongoing practice, ensuring that every interaction consistently reflects the most effective methods for enhancing the well-being of individuals living with dementia.
Through this evidence-based program, EDDC staff and volunteers gain critical insights into effective communication. They learn why conventional communication methods are often ineffective when working with individuals facing the disability of dementia. The training delves into the "what, why, and how" of positive, person-centered interactions, equipping participants with highly practical strategies that can be applied immediately and continuously strengthened through repetition, feedback, and reflection. This initiative underscores a strong collaborative effort between EDDC and Dementia Together, aiming to elevate the standard of compassionate and skilled support for people living with dementia and their families.
This collaboration also extends to the Memory Café, a monthly gathering for caregivers and individuals with dementia. Meeting at St. Bart's Church on the second Thursday morning of each month, the Memory Café operates under the auspices of Dementia Together, further demonstrating a unified approach to dementia care within the community.
The Estes Dementia Day Center operates with a clear mission: to provide a safe, caring, and enriching day program for local adults with dementia, while simultaneously offering caregivers essential time for respite. Families are invited to experience the benefits of this structured, supportive environment.
The dedication of the volunteers is evident in their daily interactions. For example, during a recent session, one volunteer provided quiet companionship as a guest comfortably snoozed in a recliner. Concurrently, two other volunteers engaged guests at a table with a "weather trivia quiz" focused on the equinox and solstice. These moments, often accompanied by sharing hot apple cider, exemplify the warm and engaging atmosphere fostered by the volunteers, who recently raised their cups in a toast to the first day of autumn.
Individuals interested in volunteering at EDDC are encouraged to contact the center at [email protected]. Additionally, for those seeking full-time employment opportunities at EDDC, inquiries can be made by reaching out directly or visiting the organization's website. Debbie Unruh, the Executive Director of Estes Dementia Day Center, can be reached at 970-447-3550 or [email protected] for further information.
