companion program creates engagement
Social engagement is essential.
Dementia specialists agree that social engagement can have a quite positive effect on those living with dementia. After all, when we are with others, communicating and cooperating with them, we are exercising a wide range of cognitive skills. This "exercise" is good for the brain. And, the community provided in social engagement is good for the well-being of the person with dementia.
"One of the most effective treatments is the presence of another human being."
- Jason Karlawish, Co-director of the Penn Memory Center.
Dementia specialists also agree that dementia caregivers are at greater risk for various physical and mental health issues due to the intensity of dementia caregiving. And the intensity of caregiving can be physically and emotionally isolating. So, caregivers need social engagement too. Respite creates space for much needed time with others.
Implementation
The following roles are necessary to a successful program implementation. All roles may be performed by one person, however we recommend that two staff members share these responsibilities.
- Program Coordinator
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Assisted Living Facility/Memory Care Liaison
Over the course of the next generation, the number of dementia diagnoses will double. So will the number of dementia caregivers.
A preparedness gap exists.
The urgent and growing need for dementia knowledge and resources will go unmet unless we do more to advocate for people living with dementia, educate those who care for them, and support both through dementia's progression.
Beyond Dementia Coalition is working to help communities in north Georgia prepare for the social, business, and spiritual impacts dementia threatens in our region. The Reading to Adults with Dementia (RAD) program is a great example of work we can do to improve the lives of those living with Alzheimer's or other dementia AND their caregivers.
What
Volunteers visit one-on-one with a person with dementia to read to them from requested or curated written material or engage in some other mutually enjoyable activity. At its core, this program is a companionship program.
Reading is an easy starting point because the rhythmic and sonic qualities of the human voice reading prose, poetry, or prayer provide sensory stimuli that a person with dementia can appreciate and respond to well into late stage dementia.
Why
Social enageement is an essential part of quality dementia care, to slow dementia's progression and maximize overall physical and mental health.
Who
Volunteer Readers such as students, Wisdom Keepers, neighborhood theater groups, retirees, stay-at-home moms, faith outreach groups, and others are carefully vetted and individually paired with a resident of assisted living or memory care who has dementia. All volunteers must complete Volunteer Training , follow defined protocols, and complete a brief visit report form after each visit. The volunteer time commitment is estimated to be approximately 1 - 1.5 hours per week (but volunteers may give more time if they desire).
How
Wisdom Project 2030 and Beyond Dementia Coalition team partnered with an assisted living community with a memory care unit to implement a pilot program that can now be replicated and scaled to other communities in other regions.
Results
We monitored program results with two key metrics in mind: To what extent did we eliminate social isolation (QUANTITY: time spent with companion) and did the social engagement have a positive impact (QUALITY: well-being during the visit. Our early results were very encouraging.
average visit length
50 Minutes
Well-being scores were based on observations of the volunteers during each visit, based on demeanor, awareness, and engagement during the visit. Scores extrapolate to the 79th-80th percentile meaning that the quality of the visits was good.
What's Next
Program launch and implementation is now supported by Beyond Dementia Coalition. Our pilot test site was The Phoenix at Braselton in Braselton GA in the spring of 2024. Having (over) achieved the desired outcomes, Beyond Dementia Coalition will bring RAD to additional assisted living communities and provide ongoing program support beginning pre-launch.
We are currently recruiting organizations to join our Spring 2027 RAD Program Launch.
Sometimes the most meaningful measure of our impact comes from the people we serve. We're grateful to share this heartfelt testimonial and the difference Beyond Dementia Coalition is making in our communities.
Together, we're building greater awareness, understanding, and compassion for those living with dementia. 💜
Together, we're building greater awareness, understanding, and compassion for those living with dementia. 💜
💜 Making a Difference, One Life at a Time.
My name is Felicia, and I am the Program Outreach Director at Phoenix at Braselton. I had the pleasure of meeting Lynn when she moved into our community six years ago. As I got to know Lynn, we discovered that we both grew up in Albany, Georgia, and quickly realized we had a lot in common. Over the years, I have really enjoyed learning more about her life, her interests, and her incredible story.
We recently started a pilot program in partnership with the Beyond Dementia Coalition called Reading with Adults with Dementia, or RAD. The program pairs a memory care resident with a volunteer from our Independent Living or Assisted Living neighborhoods, or with an outside volunteer. The goal is to create meaningful connections through reading, conversation, and companionship.
When we started the program, I immediately thought of Molly Moore. Molly’s mother, Carol Hurst, lived in our community for two and a half years, including two years in our Memory Care neighborhood. I knew Molly had a special connection to our community and to Memory Care.
I also knew that Molly was writing a book and that Lynn had written two books of her own. I thought they would be a perfect match for the program, and I was absolutely right! The two bonded almost immediately, with their conversations and shared love of books creating a wonderful connection. Molly After my mother-in-law passed away, we moved my father-in-law, who also had dementia, into assisted living at a sister community, The Phoenix at Lake Lanier. Once again, our family was navigating the uncertainty of loving someone whose memory was changing. Although Felicia wasn’t at that community, she continued to be a listening ear. We stayed in touch through his transition and through his passing in February.
Soon afterward, Felicia connected me with the Beyond Dementia Coalition and the RAD program. Before I officially began volunteering, I attended a Virtual Dementia Tour. The experience gave me a different perspective on what my mom, my father-in-law, and so many others might have been trying to navigate. I expected confusion. What surprised me was how strongly my body responded.
We recently started a pilot program in partnership with the Beyond Dementia Coalition called Reading with Adults with Dementia, or RAD. The program pairs a memory care resident with a volunteer from our Independent Living or Assisted Living neighborhoods, or with an outside volunteer. The goal is to create meaningful connections through reading, conversation, and companionship.
When we started the program, I immediately thought of Molly Moore. Molly’s mother, Carol Hurst, lived in our community for two and a half years, including two years in our Memory Care neighborhood. I knew Molly had a special connection to our community and to Memory Care.
I also knew that Molly was writing a book and that Lynn had written two books of her own. I thought they would be a perfect match for the program, and I was absolutely right! The two bonded almost immediately, with their conversations and shared love of books creating a wonderful connection. Molly After my mother-in-law passed away, we moved my father-in-law, who also had dementia, into assisted living at a sister community, The Phoenix at Lake Lanier. Once again, our family was navigating the uncertainty of loving someone whose memory was changing. Although Felicia wasn’t at that community, she continued to be a listening ear. We stayed in touch through his transition and through his passing in February.
Soon afterward, Felicia connected me with the Beyond Dementia Coalition and the RAD program. Before I officially began volunteering, I attended a Virtual Dementia Tour. The experience gave me a different perspective on what my mom, my father-in-law, and so many others might have been trying to navigate. I expected confusion. What surprised me was how strongly my body responded.
Thank you, Bill and Kila!It has been such an exciting adventure, and I am beyond thrilled with where the RAD program has taken us! One of my favorite parts of this journey is the story of all the connections that brought us together—Molly, Lynn, myself, and, of course, you, Bill!The way our journey began and where we are today has been truly wonderful. It’s amazing to see how something that started with a shared passion has grown into a program that is making such a meaningful difference.Kila, thank you for your continued support. I am so excited to see RAD continue to grow and reach other Phoenix communities!
Get Involved
If you are interested in launching RAD at your organization, please complete the Reading to Adults with Dementia Inquiry Form (below). If you are interested in volunteering as a RAD Reader, please complete the RAD Volunteer Form (below below :)).
Reading to Adults with Dementia (RAD) Inquiry Form (for Organizations)
IRAD Volunteer Form