Almost 70 volunteers, aged 18 to 81—mostly retired women—spend time at the Village six days a week, putting in an average of 730 hours each month. They take on a variety of tasks, organized by the activities team and in close connection with the Village’s staff.
Volunteers welcome villagers at the grocery store, the brasserie, and the library, accompany them on outings or during sports activities, lead creative workshops such as watercolor painting or knitting, and organize shared moments over board games, walks, or simply with a coffee. Through these interactions, they foster social ties and enrich the daily lives of villagers.
Strong Commitment Backed by Training
Volunteers receive training to help them handle the unique challenges that can come up when working with villagers. Since 2017, over 234 volunteers have completed an orientation day led by the Village’s psychologist, Nathalie Bonnet, and the Ligue de l’Enseignement. This initial training helps them better understand Alzheimer’s disease, adjust their communication with villagers, and learn what to expect from volunteering in this special environment.
Daily life in the Village requires a delicate balance between an appropriate attitude and maintaining a warm human connection to the villagers. Volunteers may also feel affected by seeing the disease progress over time.
To help them manage this, the Ligue de l’Enseignement provides information on the legal and ethical aspects of volunteering, including topics like “giving and receiving” and what it means to make a commitment. Volunteers can also have sessions with the psychologist or the doctor when complex situations come up, ensuring they have ongoing support.
Joining the Village’s Unique Mission and Life
Volunteers are fully involved in Village life through different roles: taking part in the Social Life Council, being part of the Ethics Committee, attending conferences, and involvement with the Village’s association, À la recherche des pensées oubliées, which organizes events and social gatherings throughout the year.
For each volunteer, joining the Village Landais Alzheimer is much more than a simple mission. It is an opportunity to contribute to a unique project focused on human connection and social bonds while providing important support to the villagers in their daily lives.
