The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme — which operates throughout the Hume region — facilitates visits between volunteers and older community members who may be experiencing a sense of isolation.
Program officer Stacey Watts, who works to match volunteers with the individuals they will be visiting, said the team plays a vital role in decreasing the loneliness epidemic of older people throughout the region.
“It’s that social connection, (the volunteers) just go to visit someone who’s been put forward for the program for a minimum hour a fortnight,” she said.
“Most volunteers go every week though, and they’re just there to develop a genuine friendship with the person.”
The program has been running for about 18 years in Seymour alone, and 25 years across the Hume region.
It operates throughout the Mitchell, Murrindindi, Strathbogie and Greater Shepparton Shires, as well as local government areas in Benalla, Mansfield and Wangaratta.
The sole expectation of volunteers part of the program is to ‘brighten the life of an older person’.
During a visit, volunteers can expect anything from taking a walk to working on a joint hobby together. It’s all about spending quality time with the older person.
Ms Watts said it was hard to put into words how important the volunteers are to the community.
“They do so much good work, and they make such an impact in these people’s lives,” she said.
“I’ve got so many good stories of complete turnarounds with people’s mental health.
“I just hope they understand what kind of impact they’re making doing volunteering.”
Ms Watts said “we’re always after volunteers”.
For more information on the program, or to apply to become a volunteer, visit https://tinyurl.com/ya4fsnpw or contact Ms Watts on 0437 245 107.
10°C