• Age Concern phone calls to older people underway in Hawke’s Bay

Age Concern phone calls to older people underway in Hawke’s Bay

Age Concern and its volunteer network are underway with their first well-being phone calls to about 1000 older residents across Hawke’s Bay.

Age Concern Manager Carol Winters says these first calls are a critical step in supporting older people and identifying those who needed urgent support.

“We are finding out who is living at home alone and those who do not have a contact or support person within their 'bubble'. 

“As part of this we are checking in on how they are managing and whether they have enough food to get them through the weekend, along with a well-being assessment.

“We are also targeting health check telephone calls to a priority list.”

Ms Winters said these first calls, which started on Monday, were taking about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. 

“From here we are identifying and prioritising those who are most vulnerable and setting plans in place to help support them.

“Our small group of phone volunteers is each building up a database who they will stay in touch with over the phone during the coming weeks because it is important that we build rapport and familiarity with our older people,” Ms Winters said.

“Since we started these calls we have noticed the level of worry and concern among our older people has been increasing, especially over how their basic needs will be met.

“We are facing a very challenging time ahead but as a community working together and through establishing good protocols and processes we are doing our very best to ensure we can get help to where it is needed the most,” she said.

Age Concern’s volunteers are all working from home.  It has co-ordinated its office operations to Napier and closed both its Hastings and Havelock North branches during the Level 4 lockdown. 

Age Concern is also working in with the Civil Defence team and primary healthcare providers.

 

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