Wisdom comes with age

A South Australian volunteer-based information service, which informs seniors about the issues relevant to them, is now seeking more volunteers to join its growing team.

Operating since February this year, Seniors Wise SA is paving the way to help raise awareness in the general community on a range of ageing issues, and also works to banish negative stereotypes of seniors by conducting free talks and seminars.

The program is funded by the South Australian government and assists in:

• Providing information and explores options for older adults
• Raises awareness on a range of ageing topics in the community
• Encourages local businesses to provide senior friendly services; and
• Builds a stronger community together with seniors

During its initial phase, Seniors Wise SA will be focussing on Adelaide’s inner metropolitan suburbs, and aims to expand its services across South Australian regional areas. The team has already been receiving enquires from rural parts of the state, and there is also a long-term future goal of extending the services nationwide.

Seniors Wise SA program manager, Tracey Fox, told DPS eNews some of the ways the service provides information to seniors is by phone, user-friendly website enquiries, personal home visits, group presentations and seminars, as well as personal visits to the Seniors Wise SA office.

Ms Fox says the program educates people, generally over the age of 60 years, with information that is relevant to them.

“Information can range from aged care, housing and retirement options, and home care help,” she says.

“The program has become a vital way for seniors to receive information, and with statistics, particularly in South Australia, showing the population is ageing rapidly, there will be an increasing need for information,” she adds.

With about 50 enlisted volunteers, Ms Fox says they are always looking more people to assist in protecting seniors’ rights and needs.

“Most of our volunteers are older, but we also have some younger volunteers who assist us, and we are now looking for volunteers of any age to become part of the program.

“We’re looking for people who are friendly, patient and caring, and who can make a difference by working with older people,” she says.

Seniors Wise SA also assists businesses to better serve older customers by assessing the access and layout of businesses and customer service.

The businesses which have been assessed by Seniors Wise SA are labelled as certified ‘senior friendly’ businesses and carry the ‘Senior Friendly Business’ logo, and are also listed in the Senior Friendly Business directory.