This past
school year, a group of students from Havergal College in Toronto, Canada have
continued their volunteer work at a local nursing home – similar to their experience
last year. During these weekly visits at Briton House, we spend time with
seniors with dementia to engage them in conversation and brain-stimulating
activities. While we initially began our volunteer work with the intention of
helping individuals with dementia, we have actually benefited tremendously from
the experience ourselves. In working with these residents, we have deepened our
understanding of the disease, formed strong intergenerational friendships, and furthered
our compassion, patience, and interpersonal skills.
Although
some of us had never worked with seniors with dementia before, we learned to
communicate and interact with a person with dementia, thanks to our amazing
mentors – Professor Nathan Herrmann at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and
University of Toronto and the staff at Briton House.
Our time at
the nursing home has been filled with many highlights, along with some
challenges along the way. Each of our visits have been very memorable, whether
it be the fun we had making scrapbooks with the residents, having holiday
parties, or just relaxing and conversing over a cup of tea and a good book.
We have
been fortunate to meet seniors who have shared life lessons and stories from
their childhood with us. Each of the individuals we have interacted with are
extremely unique; one of them was part of a team in the Canadian Armed Forces
that decoded bombs during the war, another one was previously a physician, and
another resident used to attend our school. It is through these interactions
that we have discovered the beauty and brighter side to dementia, because we
learn as much from these individuals as they do from us.
Below are individual reflections from some of our student volunteers.
Carolyne You:
When I first entered Briton House, I wasn't sure what was going to happen. I've never interacted with people who have dementia and after reading multiple articles about how to do so, I was very anxious. For the next two weeks, it was the only thing I could think about. "What if I say the wrong thing? What do I do?" were constant thoughts I had. When we arrived at Briton House for our tour, I encountered this wonderful woman in the theatre. She was so delightful and full of joy; it was contagious. I thought to myself, "I hope my partner is as lively as her". Soon enough the following week, I found out who my partner was going to be for the next few months. Coincidentally enough, it was the woman I met in the theatre. My heart soared. I knew that I was going to get along with her. Over the next few visits, I got the opportunity to learn about her - what her hobbies were and even about her childhood. Every visit, I bonded with her more. Our conversations were easy going and surprisingly enough, I talked about more personal things with her than I do with my own mom. These visits every Wednesday was the highlight of my week. It felt so nice to see her because I knew that not many people come to see her. Whenever I saw her, her face would light up. I knew that just by coming to visit her, it made her day. Just knowing that it made her day is all that I needed. Every now and then, she looks lost or not there, which breaks my heart. Now I realize that for her, all I need to do is just be there.
Ariana Seyedmakki:
After learning about different diseases and how to treat patients through my extra-curricular activities and hobbies, I became interested to work with dementia patients in a residential home. I was surprised to get a good friend out of the experience; a resident at Briton House has become a great friend of mine over the past few months. We meet every week, write letters, engage in mind-stimulating games and complete art activities. Through these activities, we complement each other - I hope to comfort her and potentially ease some of her symptoms, while she uncovered in me the skill of being present and patient with someone inflicted by dementia. Thankfully, she enjoys our encounters just as much as I do and tells me that looks forward to our weekly visits. In order to be able to interact with her in the most effective way, I am in contact with Dr. Herrmann, a dementia specialist at Sunnybrook Hospital, to update him about my visits and ask questions.
Overall, it has been a privilege to work with these seniors with dementia every week. We would like to sincerely thank Professor Herrmann and the staff at Briton House for mentoring us this year. As well, we want to thank the residents for letting us into their lives and for befriending us. We are so honoured to hear how much they look forward to our visits every week, and we hope that together, we can restore some of what dementia takes away.
Below are individual reflections from some of our student volunteers.
Carolyne You:
When I first entered Briton House, I wasn't sure what was going to happen. I've never interacted with people who have dementia and after reading multiple articles about how to do so, I was very anxious. For the next two weeks, it was the only thing I could think about. "What if I say the wrong thing? What do I do?" were constant thoughts I had. When we arrived at Briton House for our tour, I encountered this wonderful woman in the theatre. She was so delightful and full of joy; it was contagious. I thought to myself, "I hope my partner is as lively as her". Soon enough the following week, I found out who my partner was going to be for the next few months. Coincidentally enough, it was the woman I met in the theatre. My heart soared. I knew that I was going to get along with her. Over the next few visits, I got the opportunity to learn about her - what her hobbies were and even about her childhood. Every visit, I bonded with her more. Our conversations were easy going and surprisingly enough, I talked about more personal things with her than I do with my own mom. These visits every Wednesday was the highlight of my week. It felt so nice to see her because I knew that not many people come to see her. Whenever I saw her, her face would light up. I knew that just by coming to visit her, it made her day. Just knowing that it made her day is all that I needed. Every now and then, she looks lost or not there, which breaks my heart. Now I realize that for her, all I need to do is just be there.
Ariana Seyedmakki:
After learning about different diseases and how to treat patients through my extra-curricular activities and hobbies, I became interested to work with dementia patients in a residential home. I was surprised to get a good friend out of the experience; a resident at Briton House has become a great friend of mine over the past few months. We meet every week, write letters, engage in mind-stimulating games and complete art activities. Through these activities, we complement each other - I hope to comfort her and potentially ease some of her symptoms, while she uncovered in me the skill of being present and patient with someone inflicted by dementia. Thankfully, she enjoys our encounters just as much as I do and tells me that looks forward to our weekly visits. In order to be able to interact with her in the most effective way, I am in contact with Dr. Herrmann, a dementia specialist at Sunnybrook Hospital, to update him about my visits and ask questions.
Overall, it has been a privilege to work with these seniors with dementia every week. We would like to sincerely thank Professor Herrmann and the staff at Briton House for mentoring us this year. As well, we want to thank the residents for letting us into their lives and for befriending us. We are so honoured to hear how much they look forward to our visits every week, and we hope that together, we can restore some of what dementia takes away.
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