Volunteers wanted to help avoid loneliness

Loneliness among Australia’s older population continues to be a pressing issue. Australians over 65 years spend up to 85% of their time alone according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Research also shows 10% of older Australians suffer from loneliness every day.

Add to this evidence that social engagement with others can lower the risk of mortality as much as regular exercise, and it’s clear there is an urgent need for programs that encourage social interaction in our local communities.

Not-for-profit aged care provider, Benetas, is urgently calling on Victorians to join their new Community Volunteering pilot program to visit elderly clients in their own homes for one or two hours per week. Benetas aims to match volunteers to their 200 clients living in the eastern suburbs.

“Benetas currently receives funding to care for over 800 Victorians living in their own homes, providing essential services from personal care to cleaning and meal preparation. Just as important is providing opportunities for social interaction – it’s the ‘icing on the cake’ for a good quality of life, and we’ve identified a need to find volunteers willing to provide companionship to our clients,” says Benetas chief executive, Sandra Hills.

Volunteers and clients are matched based on similar interests and activities which may include discussing a shared interest, playing cards or board games, walking the dog or simply having a chat over a cup of tea.
 
“This program is fairly unique for the aged care industry, as volunteers have traditionally and usually spend time with older people in nursing homes. However, we know that older people want to stay living in their own homes for longer and their needs are changing – and so we recognise that our volunteering program needs to change to suit this trend.”
 
Ms Hills says that volunteers who visit older people in their own homes provide a vital link between older people and their local communities, and as a result, improve the older person’s quality of life enormously.

“The difference with community volunteering is that we are supporting people who undertake their volunteering individually, without a coordinator present so it’s important that we provide our volunteers with the tools to problem-solve effectively and manage their client-volunteer relationships in a professional manner.”
 
Benetas has been actively researching similar programs operating overseas and in sectors like disability care.

“We’ll be continually evaluating our Community Volunteering program – learning and adapting as we go to best suit the needs of our clients and volunteers,” says Ms Hills.

If you would like to help an older person in your local community please contact Sarah Collins, Benetas volunteer coordinator community care on (03) 8823 7900.