Volunteer Matters Podcast: Inclusive Communities for Dementia with Carolyn Brandley

Welcome to another edition of the Volunteer Matters podcast, hosted from the boardroom of Volunteer Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. In this episode, we speak with Carolyn Brandley about her important initiative to foster inclusion for people with dementia in the city of Victoria. Carolyn shares insights on integrating those living with dementia into community life, highlighting the barriers and supports in city programs and services. The conversation covers the stereotypes associated with dementia, the various types of dementia, and the impact of creating an inclusive environment. Carolyn also delves into her personal journey, community engagement, and practical advice for organizations considering volunteer roles for individuals with dementia. Join us for a compelling and informative discussion aimed at enhancing community support and understanding for those living with dementia.

Help Build a Dementia Inclusive Community!

The Fostering Inclusion for people with dementia project is about supporting people with dementia to stay connected within their community. The project is a research partnership between the City of Victoria's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the University of Victoria exploring the City’s built and social environments (spaces, programs, services, & policies) through a dementia-inclusive lens.

Take the Survey: ⁠https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/SRWSGKW⁠

• • ALL community members, whether living with dementia or not, are invited to participate in the online survey.

• • The survey will take 5-10 minutes to complete,

• • Your responses are completely anonymous and will be combined with those from other respondents to inform recommendations.

Questions? Contact Carolyn Brandly, Research Associate at ⁠cbrandly@victoria.ca⁠

00:00 Introduction to Volunteer Matters Podcast

00:57 Meet Carolyn Brandley: A Journey of Service

01:39 Fostering Inclusion for People with Dementia

04:57 Challenging Stereotypes About Dementia

08:31 City of Victoria's Forward-Thinking Initiatives

13:01 Carolyn's Personal Connection to Dementia

16:48 How to Get Involved and Support the Initiative

19:58 Collaborating with Alzheimer's Organizations

20:18 Integrating Volunteers with Alzheimer's

21:05 Addressing Concerns and Stereotypes

21:58 Successful Volunteer Roles for Alzheimer's Patients

22:58 Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer's

24:18 Personal Background and Community Involvement

25:42 Volunteering and Community Engagement

28:49 Three Fun Questions

32:24 Final Thoughts and Call to Action