Volunteer: Games and Things...

by Sharyn
(CANADA)

I came upon an ad one day while reading the local paper! A young woman was looking for a volunteer to come to her home to spend time with her partner, who had recently been diagnosed with early stage dementia (at age 45 yrs.) l replied to the ad and had an interview.

Because l had recently retired from a 25 year career at nursing, she thought l would be a perfect fit for her partner. l met her partner, l will call her Catherine, she is a lovely woman, she had dreams like we all have when we r that age, however because of her recent diagnosis, her dreams became her nightmare*

I've spent 2 hours a week, every week, for the last several months with this woman. We play card games, scrabble, talk. l see the disappointment in her eyes as she talks about her future & how helpless her situation is for her and her partner of 10 years.

The life they share, dreams they had, plans they made, now every day is a struggle for them to keep it together and plan on tomorrow, never mind the next 10 years. l will continue to go and spend time with this woman, Catherine, and do what we have been doing for several weeks now, she talks, l listen & l am there for her too!