Non-for-profit calls and checks in with elderly
A Sydney non-for-profit has started ringing up the elderly and vulnerable daily to make sure they are supported and connected during the coronavirus pandemic. It comes after the latest government announcement recommending those over 70 years to stay home.
Northern District Times
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A Sydney not-for-profit has started ringing the elderly and vulnerable daily to make sure they are supported and connected during the coronavirus pandemic.
Sydney Community Services chief executive officer Gill Batt said her team have received a surge in calls after the latest government announcement calling those 70 years and older and those living with a chronic disease above the age of 60 to stay home.
“We have had a lot more calls from people who are now feeling a little bit isolated,” Ms Batt told The Northern District Times.
Based in Lane Cove, the non-for-profit helps their 1000 clients including the elderly and those living with a disability across Lane Cove and Hunters Hill through essential services including food delivery, medical transport, shopping and home nursing services.
From book clubs and gardening days to zumba and drama workshops, Sydney Community Services work hard to make residents feel like they’re part of a community.
Yet, since the coronavirus pandemic, these events have been cancelled making the organisation rethink how they can help an already isolated group.
“We are starting to ring them on a daily basis just to see that they're okay,” Ms Batt said.
“For some of these people this is the only time they mix with people during their social isolation.”
Ms Batt’s team are now helping elderly residents who are computer literate to navigate online services such as online grocery shopping.
For those who don’t have a computer, her team can also do the online shopping for them as well as pick up and drop off groceries on a limited basis.
Ms Batt said she had to strike a balance between keeping her staff and clients safe as well as still providing services to a group of the community who are already isolated.
“We need to make sure that in isolating themselves they (clients) are not getting a bit down and depressed.”
From a safety point of view the non-for-profit has had to cancel social activities such as bus trips, community lunches and games for safety reasons.
Yet essential services like providing meals, home nursing and changing bed linen are still going ahead yet “practical restrictions” have been enforced.
Nurses have been given masks and others involved in food delivery have been asked to drop meals at the front door.
Ms Batt has encouraged other members of the community to check in and get in contact if they know elderly or vulnerable members in their neighbourhoods who are in social isolation.
“If you’ve got a neighbour and you know they only on their own go check on them and have a chat,” she said.
Sydney Community Services have also started a food drive to collect non perishables for elderly and the vulnerable.
Donations can be made to one of the two offices at Lane Cove and Hunters Hill.
1 Pottery Lane, Lane Cove
46 Gladesville Road, Hunters Hill