I would like to ask a question about a person with dementia volunteering in the church or community.
If the person (a gentleman with Alzheimer's) has a background in teaching, child care, fostering, special needs and disabilities of all kinds and is a placid, kind and unfailingly helpful person, is it essential that that person is excluded from assisting in a general way at a mother and toddler group? Intergenerational activity is generally seen as a positive move in this field, and mixing in this kind of way brings all kinds of mutual benefits. In this specific case he would be in attendance alongside me, his wife, who has a more active role within the group. In order for her to maintain her leadership, would it be a risk or threat for her husband to be alongside? The idea of this gentle, kindly, strong and helpful (setting up and clearing away - great asset for furniture and toy tidying) man in his early 70s being rejected from this setting on health and safety grounds fills me with sadness. How could we move forward with this?
Thank you to anyone with experience in this field or who is willing to offer advice and guidance.
Phyl
If the person (a gentleman with Alzheimer's) has a background in teaching, child care, fostering, special needs and disabilities of all kinds and is a placid, kind and unfailingly helpful person, is it essential that that person is excluded from assisting in a general way at a mother and toddler group? Intergenerational activity is generally seen as a positive move in this field, and mixing in this kind of way brings all kinds of mutual benefits. In this specific case he would be in attendance alongside me, his wife, who has a more active role within the group. In order for her to maintain her leadership, would it be a risk or threat for her husband to be alongside? The idea of this gentle, kindly, strong and helpful (setting up and clearing away - great asset for furniture and toy tidying) man in his early 70s being rejected from this setting on health and safety grounds fills me with sadness. How could we move forward with this?
Thank you to anyone with experience in this field or who is willing to offer advice and guidance.
Phyl