A present in the post: care packages sent out to elderly residents stuck at home
Salisbury sends out $15,000 worth of food parcels to vulnerable people in the council area, while Holdsfast Bay concentrates on keeping minds active with its care package.
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Two metropolitan councils are looking after the minds and stomachs of their elderly residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Salisbury has sent out 150 care packages containing useful supplies such as canned goods and toilet paper to “vulnerable community members” on the council’s accessibility register.
One of the recipients was Joan Murden of Para Hills.
The 86 year old said the delivery came “totally out of the blue”.
“But it was a lovely surprise,” she said.
“It’s so nice to know that people are still thinking about us.”
Mrs Murden said like many other older people she had not been outside for “a while now”.
“I had to go for a blood test a few weeks ago but that was it,” she said.
My son-in-law does my shopping for me and I talk to my daughter on the phone twice a day, she rings me of a morning to make sure I am still breathing and I ring her at night to let her know I am going to bed.”
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Lillian Scholtz of Salisbury was another to receive one of the parcels and said she appreciated the support from the council with the parcel “coming at a good time”.
Mayor Gillian Aldridge said the initiative was intended to help reduce the added burden the pandemic was having on vulnerable groups.
“We are committed to taking extra measures to ensure all members of our community are being looked after during what is a difficult and uncertain time,” Mayor Aldridge said.
“These care packages aim to provide some relief to the recipients, who are facing additional barriers to accessing basic food items and other goods that are currently difficult to source.”
Meanwhile, Holdfast Bay Council contacted 1000 of its older residents to see if they would like one of their activity packs containing puzzles and a quiz.
Mayor Amanda Wilson said 542 people took them up on the offer and the packs were delivered by volunteers and council staff last week.
“More than anything it made our elderly feel people were looking out for them,” Ms Wilson said.
“We will probably do it again in a different form, it’s a way of connecting with them.”
Ms Wilson said it was very clear that some people are very lonely during the shutdown and the council would do what it could to help them.