Dementia Buddies Success Means More Volunteers Are Needed

Dementia buddies, a joint initiative between South Essex Partnership University NHS Trust and The Mickey Payne Memorial Foundation has been so successful we need more volunteers.

Volunteering as a dementia buddie will involve you giving up your time to visit the patient that you are buddied with a few times a week, which can be outside of visiting hours to get to know them and be company for them when their family are unable to visit.

Caroline Dearson, founder of The Mickey Payne Memorial Foundation and a dementia buddy herself said “We have so many patients and families that have signed up to the dementia buddie scheme we don’t have enough volunteers to go round.

“It’s an amazingly rewarding role and I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to get to know some amazing patients and be given an insight into their life story”

The daughter of one of our patients commented “I have the utmost respect and appreciation for the buddies and gather great comfort from knowing that someone is there for mum when I can’t be.

“Caring for a relative with dementia is a very hard journey for all involved, with good, bad and sad days, the buddies help make my sad days good days.”

If you are interested in becoming a buddie or would like more information about how to get involved, e-mail:mickeypaynememorialfoundation@hotmail.co.uk or lesley.wackett@sept.nhs.uk.  Alternatively call Caroline on 07539 567553.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Amanda Barlow, Communications Officer on 01268 739763 or email amanda.barlow@sept.nhs.uk

More Information about SEPT

With an annual turnover of approximately £350m South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT) is one of the most successful Foundation Trusts in the country providing integrated care including mental health, learning disability, social care and community services.

We provide these services across Bedfordshire, Essex and Luton and Suffolk, employ approximately 7,000 people and serve a population of 2.5 million. We work with a wide range of partner organisations to deliver care and support to people in their own homes and from a number of hospital and community based premises. We have many modern community based resource centres and clinics to provide local services to local people where possible.

More information about The Mickey Payne Memorial Foundation

The Mickey Payne Memorial Foundation was set up to support families with relatives who suffer from Dementia, respecting these patients and prolonging their dignity in memory of Mickey Payne, father of the founders of the Foundation.