The charity’s volunteers play an integral role in supporting our patients with dementia and their families. They provide companionship, conversation and activities that make a big difference to a patient’s experience of care in hospital. The charity also runs a variety of music and art therapy sessions on the wards while the Royal Free Radio, our volunteer-run hospital radio station, broadcasts sundown sessions specially curated to ease the late evening agitation often experienced 10 Volunteer recognised for dementia care in New Year’s Honours List Supporting patients with dementia by patients with dementia. At BH, charity volunteers help Doris Ajayi, a dementia clinical nurse specialist, to run “Tea with Doris”, a weekly support session for patients with dementia. To find out more about volunteering opportunities, or to make a donation to enable more dementia support volunteers to spend time with those patients who need it the most, visit the charity’s website at royalfreecharity.org When Evelyn Blumenthal retired from the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead six years ago, she was determined to remain active. “I wanted to help make a difference and was volunteering for the Royal Free Charity a few weeks later,” she said. While she enjoys tasks like serving breakfast on the wards and generally supporting patients and families, it is helping people with dementia which is especially close to Evelyn’s heart. She said: “I have friends with varying stages of dementia, including advanced cases. I also support a friend who is caring for her partner with advanced dementia at home. The NHS provides 24-hour care for him, but I help her wherever I can.” Evelyn’s dedication to leading the charity’s dementia companionship volunteer programme was recognised in this year’s Honours List with a British Empire Medal. She said: “I will sit at a patient’s bedside, look at the “eight important things about me” and talk about their family and friends, or a pet. But I find music is often the one thing that makes patients with dementia really alert and you suddenly find them singing along to a song. “The staff do everything they can, but they’ve got the whole hospital to care for. That is where us volunteers can be really helpful. Volunteering is about time and care.” Evelyn said: “I was really amazed to get the award. People have been so happy for me, and at my age, it’s been lovely to share good news for a change. When the news went out on my tennis group’s WhatsApp, my phone pinged all afternoon with friends congratulating me.” Jon Spiers, Royal Free Charity chief executive, said: “Evelyn is a familiar face at the Royal Free Hospital and this award will come as no surprise to anyone who has worked alongside her or benefitted from her exceptional care. “Her dedication to caring for some of our most vulnerable patients, combined with her commitment to mentoring and developing new volunteers, makes her a superb role model for NHS volunteers. “We are immensely proud of her.” Evelyn Blumenthal Doris Ajayi pictured left with charity staff Carla and Diana and volunteer Sue Volunteering is about time and care “ “
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