FACILITY-ALZHEIMER’S BUDDIES VOLUNTEER AGREEMENT
This agreement for volunteer services between National Alzheimer’s Buddies (Party A) and the respective Facility Advisor (Party B) is effective upon the receipt of the Facility Advisor’s electronic signature.
By completing this electronic form, Party B agrees to the terms and conditions as follows (but not limited to):
Party B will pair new volunteers from Party A with a resident (“buddy”) that is eligible for the program.
With every new batch of volunteers, Party B will make a list of candidate residents who have a clear diagnosis of dementia and would benefit from student volunteer visits. There are two options for buddy pairing:
(PREFERRED) During the Volunteer Orientation (see below), Party B can prepare and present a brief biography about each resident, and the volunteers will be able to choose their own buddy. The biography can include their hobbies, interests, personality, etc., and it is not necessary to include their diagnosis.
OR The volunteers from party A will provide a short biography about themselves, and you can pair the volunteers and their buddies based on the listed hobbies/interests/personality.
Party B will arrange for NAB-specific consent forms and photo releases to be signed by legal guardians of candidate residents before student visits commence using one of the following methods:
Directly at: http://www.alzbuddies.org/signup/.
Download and print NAB’s Photo Consent Form at http://www.alzbuddies.org/facilities.
The Photo Consent for Party A can be added as another section directly onto Party B’s existing Photo Consent Form.
Note: The Facility Advisor should let the volunteers know whether their buddy has consented to photos before visits have begun.
Both Parties will collaborate to arrange an on-site Volunteer Orientation.
The Orientation may include a tour, buddy pairing, brief training on what to keep in mind when interacting with the residents, etc. Even though the volunteers will not be interacting with the residents in a medical context, they should still be made aware of how to interface and interact with the facility, and follow its rules.
If Party B’s facility has any forms/processes required for volunteering (e.g. CORI forms (background check), vaccination records), please let Party A know prior to the Orientation.
The purpose of our program is to foster one-on-one relationships with the residents. Therefore, to avoid potential confusion, the volunteers will meet with their assigned buddy and is discouraged from doing activities with other residents in a group, unless their buddy is not available to visit for that day.
Party B will assist Part A with volunteer management.
Both parties will retain a list of resident/patient and student volunteer pairings.
Party B will alert Party A of the passing or temporary unavailability of participating residents prior to the scheduled visit time. Party A will get a punctual notification from Party B whenever the facility/resident is not available for visitation.
Party B will ensure that there is always at least one staff member within earshot of the volunteers, and that volunteers know which staff members they can go to if they run into problems or questions during their visit.
Both Parties will ensure that staff members and volunteers have a means of communicating concerns, compliments, and other feedback with each other.
Party B will assist Part A with connecting with the resident’s families.
Party B will garner support for the program from family members. At certain points of the academic year, Party A will be planning events/activities that involve the resident’s family. Some of these activities are:
Family letters: Each of the volunteers from Party A will write a letter to their buddy’s family, talking about their interaction with the buddies and the memories that the pair have made together. Party B will ensure that they reach the residents’ families.
Family luncheon: This event will be hosted by both Parties. It will be an opportunity for the family members of the residents to meet their buddies, socialize, and discuss the beautiful memories that they have made together. The event does not have to be a luncheon, it can be a dessert party, game session, etc.