Bridging the Loneliness Gap

The 'Building Bridges' program at RAAFA’s Alice Ross King (ARK) Care Centre is helping to tackle issues of loneliness, isolation and depression head on.

A collaboration between AFME, Alzheimer’s Australia, the City of Melville and not-for-profit organisation Attitudinal Healing, the program ‘buddies’ up a volunteer with a resident at ARK each week, who meet to share quality time and have a chat, very often over a cup of tea.

And two participants in the program who have found it particularly rewarding are Angela Huggins and Roy Ansell, who have both been involved from its inception, around 18 months ago.

“I really got involved by mistake,” laughs Angela, who has been a resident at AFME for around six years, and originally hails from Trinidad in Tobago.

“I was asked to go along to the first meeting without knowing too much, but I became very interested in what I heard and I thought to myself, if I can reach out to someone who could do with some company, why wouldn’t I?

“I’ve been very lucky too because I was paired with a lovely lady, and we have a very enjoyable time chatting and spending time with each other each week. I also know what it can be like to be a little lonely at times, so spending afternoons together is a real win-win for both of us.

“What’s more I’ve learnt a great deal as a result of being part of the Bridges program, I’ve enjoyed it immensely.”

Angela’s fellow Bridge Program participant Roy Ansell also jokes that “he was pushed” into the program initially.  “I’m joking of course, it was all done very nicely and I appreciate what the program is all about and am thankful for learning what I have by taking part,” he says.

“The ARK resident who I am buddied with is a great chap who’s only a bit older than me.  We talk about lots of things, including the native birds, plants and trees in WA, and we also talk about the fond memories we have of our wives.

“I’d say to anyone who is interested in mentoring a person with dementia to find out more, giving and sharing without expecting anything back is a wonderful thing to do.”

To learn more about the Building Bridges program, or to enquire about volunteering, please contact (08) 9324 0161.

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