Volunteering in aged care: the experience, how education helps and benefits that go both ways

What role do volunteers play in aged care in Australia? According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, volunteers are an essential part of the aged care system, contributing to positive outcomes such as increases in health and wellness and social connectedness.In this special episode of the Voices in DREAM podcast, recognising National Volunteer Week, volunteer Patricia shares her insights after a decade in the role working with older people, many who live with dementia. She shares her thoughts on:·         supporting people to live well in aged care·         providing familiarity and reassurance·         joining in activities·         the importance of education to support dementia care·         changing perceptions about the value of volunteersIf you're interested in volunteering in aged care, the Australian Government has information you can access here: https://www.health.gov.au/topics/aged-care/volunteers?language=en Find the Wicking Dementia Centre's free MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) here: https://mooc.utas.edu.au/DREAM is available through: https://dream.utas.edu.au/What are you or your organisation doing to recognise National Volunteer Week?