Despite a condition which can manifest in many ways, those living with dementia seem to share an appreciation of friendship.

That’s the message from the Alzheimer’s Society Eastern Bay of Plenty’s Volunteer co-ordinator, Talia Spackman.

Mrs Spackman said volunteers offering to spend a couple of hours a week with a dementia client were worth their weight in gold.

“They’re achieving far more for people in need than this modest period of time might indicate,” she said.

“We can link up a volunteer to a person living with dementia who is able and looks forward to meeting up for coffee, perhaps playing cards or having an outing.

“In this way a person with dementia gets a break from their home environment, the place where they spend most or all their time.

“And spending a couple of hours with one of our volunteers provides their carer with a much-needed break.

“Even if it’s just going to the supermarket or meeting up with a friend, the benefit to that carer just can’t be calculated ... it’s enormous.”

Mrs Spackman said Ōpōtiki had produced some glowing examples of people volunteering to assist those with dementia.

Betty Morrison began volunteering about 15 years ago and has befriended three women with various degrees of dementia in that time.

She had retired from a career as an office administrator and had her garden in order when she met up with old family friend Sally Shaw, who suggested she might enjoy the challenge of getting involved in helping dementia clients.

There followed involvement with two women who had Alzheimer’s.

Ms Morrison would bring them home for morning tea, lunch and activities like colouring in, simple games she invented using dominos, or baking.

“One of the ladies would hold the bowl and stir, and I’d add the ingredients.

“We’d make cookies for afternoon tea, then they can go home with some cookies, and I can have some cookies too. It’s just a matter of treating them like friends.”

Ms Morrison was impressed with the husbands of the women, who might get up at night and wander around, giving their carers little rest.

At one point she increased her involvement to two nights a week.

Her latest involvement is with a woman living with dementia who is a bit forgetful, but not hugely impaired by her condition.

The women have morning tea and lunch together at Ms Morrison’s home and can spend a good two hours playing Rummikub.

Another outstanding example of care for those living with dementia could be found at the Blokes Shed workshop, located at Peria House.

Staffed by men from the community this group met up once a week to make wooden toys and other items which they sold for charity.

The men included Peria House Retirement Village residents, but also those living with dementia from the community.

“These chaps provide the men with some much-needed male company, keep an eye on them and give them simple jobs like sanding or painting,” Mrs Spackman said.

“It’s a glowing example of a win-win for our community.

“Blokes Shed supporters enjoy gathering and making quality items for sale.

“They’re also keeping an eye out for those less fortunate.

“Again, you just cannot measure the good this time-out does for our clients and their carers.”

Members of the Blokes Shed said they enjoyed the time on the tools and took pride in the fact that wooden toys they made could stand up to the rigours of being left out in the sandpit, “while plastic stuff from the department stores will quickly get broken”.

While the workshop was a bit too small for the tools and materials required, the Blokes Shed members had taught themselves to use it to the best advantage.

“We really have to be on our toes though,” one of the men said.

“Basically, we love getting together to make items which are sold for charity.

“It’s good fellowship for us and if we can help others less fortunate at the same time, so much the better.”