"I love it that at least on Thursdays Mum will be herself again. For that hour, my mum has a friend, and I can relax hearing her laugh.”

That friend is Anne Howard who has been a volunteer at Alzheimers Tauranga since May 2003, giving up more than 70 hours each year to support families living with this disease; the most common cause of dementia.

Anne's service to the organisation has been recognised with a runner-up award in the long service category of the 2017 Minister of Health Volunteer Awards.

The Papamoa grandmother came to New Zealand from Scotland as a midwife in her mid-20s. She later moved into geriatric nursing, working mainly in the Waikato before retiring to Papamoa in 2001. 'I worked at both ends of the spectrum – birth and death.”

Anne considered going back to paid nursing after she moved to the Bay but recognised there was a need for volunteers in the health sector – something that hasn't changed to this day.

'The health system needs volunteers quite honestly, and even more so recently. Volunteers are a big part of the health system and you see that in the hospitals. My husband was in last week for a minor operation and the volunteers were great. They have the time, which we, as nurses, never had to spend time with the patients and make them feel comfortable.”

Anne's mother-in-law and stepmother both suffered from dementia, which prompted her decision to volunteer with Alzheimers Tauranga.

'I'd nursed people with it and it was an area I knew a little bit about. There's also a great need there because a lot of people find dementia hard to cope with. Sometimes an outsider can just relieve the load and give people time out.”

Anne has done both ‘companion-sitting' and ‘befriending', visiting people in their homes to offer support.

As a companion-sitter she relieves the caregiver for three hours, either just making tea and keeping the affected family member company, or sometimes taking them out for a walk or a picnic.

Respite care is important for those caring for family members with Alzheimer's disease, says Anne.

'It's a 24-hour job caring for people with dementia. You really need time out and it's reassuring to know someone is looking after your loved one.”

As a ‘befriender', which is what Anne does most of these days, she visits families on a weekly basis to make sure they have a friend to talk to.

'And you do become friends. I look back over the years and there have been such a variety. Some that were close to hospital care and others that were still quite young and mobile.”

Anne recommends volunteering for Alzheimers Tauranga as the group provides good training and has interesting guest speakers. Those interested can contact the organisation on 07 577 6344.