Volunteers are vital to every not-for-profit organization, and the James L. West Center for Dementia Care is no exception. The volunteers enhance care at the James L. West Center in may ways.
Volunteers serving on the James L. West board of directors, the Dementia Education Advisory Board, or the Cerebro Sano advisory committee provide important guidance to community leadership and help carry out the mission to serve those living with dementia and their families with care, support and education.
Local service organizations have completed projects to beautify the campus.
Individuals volunteer their time to perform, lead music and crafts, and spend one-on-one time with residents and participants.
All volunteers are appreciated for their efforts. James L. West has numerous opportunities for volunteers to enhance the care, programming and environment for the residents and senior day program participants.
“Volunteers truly are the heart and soul of the James L. West Center, infusing every aspect of our mission with compassion and dedication. Their generosity of time and spirit transforms our care into something truly extraordinary,'” said Cathy Neece Brown, vice president of mission support and chief strategy officer.
National Volunteer Week is April 21 – 27, but the James L. West Center celebrates their volunteers year round.
Volunteers Enhance Care
Volunteers support the work of the life enrichment team and enhance James L. West’s ability to meet resident needs.
“When we have volunteers in our community, it allows our team to have more parallel programming, which allows for more resident engagement,” King said.
Residents can engage in activities that interest them if more activities are going on. Engagement leads to a calmer community and fewer negative expressions.
Volunteers also support socialization, which is important for overall health.
“Our volunteers help enhance our social atmosphere,” said Valynda King, life enrichment director.
King said volunteers spark curiosity in the residents, who want to learn about the volunteer and then share their own stories and experiences as well. It’s particularly beneficial for those residents who struggle in small and large groups when interacting one-on-one with a volunteer.
“Whether it’s painting nails, massaging hands, playing music or even just sitting quietly with a resident and being present, volunteers help our residents feel important, needed, and loved,” King said.
Volunteer groups also have a big impact on residents, completing larger projects to enhance outdoor spaces.
Last fall, the Young Men’s Service League completed a project replanting the garden at the James L. West Center to provide fall color. Teen boys who attend private schools in Fort Worth and their mothers worked in partnership on the project.
Volunteering Connects Generations
Thrisha Sukesh, a local high school student, volunteers at the James L. West Center. She received a grant through the National Charity League, a service organization for girls who attend private schools and their moms. The local chapter chose James L. West as their service project for the year.
“I look forward to connecting with residents in whatever way possible, even if it’s just sharing the same love of chocolate chip cookies,” Sukesh said. “My favorite part is when a resident and I start a conversation and find something we have in common.”
Sukesh volunteers with residents as well as at the James L. West Senior Day Program. Her grandfather has dementia, and she knows how important her visits are to him. He loves it when she can spend time with him, or bring him flowers.
“When I was awarded the grant money through the National Charity League, I wanted to bring the same joy to more people with dementia,” she said. “It was a no-brainer to use my budget on flowers and cookies so they could enjoy a treat.”
Sukesh said the way residents’ eyes light up when they see her is the most rewarding part of volunteering.
“The fact that I can make them smile, even if only for a moment, is the pull that makes me return,” she said. “At first, it felt harder to interact with the residents since I felt very young compared to them and that we had nothing in common, but I now know that even a little smile can go a long way.”
Volunteering Connects Communities
For Wilma Lopez, serving on the Cerebro Sano Advisory Committee is a personal passion.
“Both my in-laws are afflicted with dementia, so I know firsthand the struggles of caring for and keeping our loved ones safe and healthy,” Lopez said.
The bilingual education program was created to bring dementia and brain health education to the Latino community in Fort Worth and North Texas. The program, now in its second year, is funded through the ARPA program in Tarrant County.
“We help James L. West develop collaborations with other Hispanic/Latino organizations with the goal of reaching more of the Latino population with free educational resources,” Lopez said.
“In many Latino homes, dementia is misunderstood and oftentimes ignored. My hope is that by educating other Latinos on what dementia is will help them develop coping mechanisms to effectively care for their loved one.”
Lopez is also passionate about teaching other Latinos about steps they can take to keep the brain healthy.
Kirk Driver, the immediate past James L. West Center board chair, knew very little about the organization when he was recruited to serve. He liked the mission and the organization’s desire to grow and diversify to meet the needs of individuals and families living with dementia.
“I knew very little about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and I knew very little about what James L. West Center did,” Driver, who is a career police officer. “I don’t believe in coincidences. I do believe God puts you in places for reasons. Within a year of my becoming a board member, I had not one but two family members diagnosed with dementia.”
Through his board service, Driver had learned a lot about the disease and he had learned about all the offerings at James L. West from education to support groups, from the day program to residential care.
“I could be a conduit of information for my family, and not just my family, but for friends and acquaintances, too,” he said. “The first thing I recommend is to go to our website and go to the Education section because you’re going to find answers to 90 – 95 percent of your questions there.”
Driver is passionate about expanding James L. West’s reach into the community through the expanded Senior Day Program, the addition of short-term rehabilitation, offering bilingual education to a growing Latino population, and expanding education efforts beyond North Texas.
How to Volunteer
Volunteers are welcomed at the James L. West Center for Dementia Care and the Senior Day Program. From one-on-one interaction opportunities to larger group projects, volunteers can always find opportunities to enhance care at the community.
The gift of time and talent brings joy to residents and day program participants and to those who serve.
To ensure resident and participant safety, volunteers must complete an application process and participate in a criminal background check. Learn more on our Volunteer page.
