Good call to connect at Christmas
Note: Salvo Care Line has closed since this story was published.
“Call to connect” – a new program initiated by Salvo Care Line and Aged Care Plus – was rolled out successfully over the Christmas season.
From Christmas Eve through to Boxing Day, people in some Aged Care Plus centres and residential housing communities were given the opportunity to be contacted by Salvo Care Line employees and volunteers.
Salvo Care Line NSW Manager Karen Lattouf said 20 people took the opportunity to receive a call.
“They weren’t all people who were desperately lonely, but they were still extremely appreciative of someone taking the time to give them a call at Christmas,” Karen said.
Having worked in aged care as a chaplain, Karen knows how easy it is for the elderly to feel isolated and the difference a phone call can make.
“People love to have relationships with others. People love to know that others are interested in their stories,” she said. “I think more than anything, people love to feel like they’re connected with other people. And I think that is why this is so very valuable. People like to know others care about them.”
Aged Care Plus Marketing and Communications Manager Alana Parker, who helped get the program running, said they were thrilled for their residents and clients, who were given the opportunity to connect with someone new.
“Christmas is a very special time of year. However, for those who don't have, or are unable to connect with family and friends, it can also be a very lonely time. We genuinely love everyone in our care and this program gave us another way to ensure each of our residents received the care and support they needed at Christmas,” Alana said.
Salvo Care Line staff and volunteers made the calls outside their regular shifts and below are some of their responses to the experience:
“Giving 15 minutes of joy was rewarding in itself.”
“I was grateful for the opportunity to connect with someone who has experienced a very different Christmas to my own.”
“I admired her positivity, stoicism and resourcefulness. This is a lady who seemed to do her best to get the most out of her life.”
With a positive response from both ends of the phone line, Salvo Care Line hopes to “Call to connect” at other times during the year, including Easter.
”For us at Salvo Care Line, most of the time we’re dealing with people’s very stark and dark difficulties in their life. But for us this has been a lovely, positive thing to be able to do at a lovely time of year. The whole thing has been great for us to be involved in,” Karen said.
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