The goal of this project is to evaluate the impact of a customized, volunteer-led dementia engagement program on the behavior, mood, and social engagement of Veterans hospitalized in acute care settings. Additional indicators of impact include volunteer confidence in working with patients who have dementia, and the impact on staff workflow and satisfaction. Patients with dementia in hospital settings often struggle with agitation and disengagement, which can lead to patient or staff harm and increased lengths of stay. Interviews with staff as well as reports in clinical literature suggest that, especially in inpatient acute care units, the sterile and often isolating nature of hospitalization can make it difficult to keep patients living with dementia meaningfully engaged, which can contribute to agitation, delirium, and functional decline. In response to these challenges, staff at the Durham VA Medical Center have developed a dementia-specialty subunit within acute care that includes the use of group activities as part of the model of care. Although volunteers currently assist staff by facilitating general activities, activities currently offered do not consistently consider the variability among the Veterans capabilities, interests, or preferences which can lead to disengagement or even conflict. Additionally, currently volunteers have limited to no background on the Veteran’s preferences or cognitive needs when they are first assigned, making it difficult to connect meaningfully. In the Engagement Profile Model, Volunteers complete structured reflection forms after interacting with a new patient, which are synthesized by program co-developers into engagement profiles. These engagement profiles are then used by volunteers and hospital staff to facilitate structured and meaningful interactions that align with patients’ cognitive abilities and personal interests. This program evaluation explores outcomes for Veterans, volunteers, and nursing staff over an 8-week period. Specifically, we ask volunteers to record Veteran behavioral responses to engagement sessions following every session and then survey both staff and volunteers about their experiences with the pilot program at the beginning, midpoint and end of the study period. The volunteer surveys will include the Sense of Competence in Dementia (SCIDS) scale. Baseline surveys showed that volunteers reported varying levels of confidence in engaging Veterans with dementia, with many initially expressing discomfort or uncertainty in their abilities. Overall, volunteers rated their ability to understand patient feelings at 3.67/5, but this differed by experience: long-term volunteers (over 3 months, n=8) averaged 3.88, compared to 3.25 for newer volunteers (n=4). Similarly, the ability to engage patients in meaningful activities averaged 3.92/5 overall, with long-term volunteers scoring higher (4.12) than short-term volunteers (3.25). Many of the experienced volunteers noted that they had already been using or were familiar with Engagement Profiles, while most newer volunteers had not yet used them Based on evaluation findings, we will work with key stakeholders to refine the program and, if indicated, expand the program to other units. This initiative directly supports VA operational priorities to deliver age-friendly, Veteran-centered care in acute settings and to enhance Veteran safety and experience during hospitalization.