Diane Osborne

Diane is a volunteer for the dementia adviser service that operates in various locations across England. Here's her story...

I have had experience of the devastating effects of dementia as my father lived with this challenging disease for many years. I know how tired, lonely and bewildered both the carer and their loved ones can feel, so I wanted to offer my support.

As a dementia adviser volunteer I support individuals who have recently been diagnosed with dementia, and their families, to help them access services that can improve and enhance their quality of life.

I started with an online training package, which was brilliant, and I attended a carer training course which was very useful. It covered topics such as legal aspects, difficult behaviour, activities, and coping with stress.

When you are living with dementia, attending an activity or group for the first time can be pretty daunting, so, in my role as a dementia adviser volunteer I will collect and support individuals.  I will encourage people to attend social groups that provide opportunities for people with dementia to meet others and to share experiences, moods, and coping strategies. A trip using 'Ring and Ride' can be far easier when you have a friendly face to accompany you. I also help out at 'Alz cafe' another social opportunity for people with dementia and their families to meet others and enjoy themselves in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

I hope that my support will improve the quality of life for all those concerned and I thoroughly enjoy the flexibility and variety the volunteer role brings.