‘An Invitation to Older Residents …’
Summary
Lane Cove Council worked with a local service provider, Sydney Community Services, to develop an 8 page booklet that contains simple case studies of older people who were isolated and by reaching out to services had become involved with their community. The aim was to encourage other people to also reach out and get connected with the community. The ‘stories’ were devised to be simple and broad enough so that people in a range of different circumstances could relate to and identify with them and feel comfortable to make that first often difficult phone call to seek support. The phone call was put through to the Community Care Advisor who co-wrote the booklet so that she could deal with the phone calls sensitively. The brochures were included in both organisations mail-outs, in the rates notices and taken to many places where it was felt older people, even those who were relatively isolated, would go eg the local shops, the library and hairdressers.
The Community Care Advisor at Lane Cove and North Side Community Services (now called Sydney Community Services) is a trained Community Welfare Professional with about 35 years of experience. The number on the brochure is the number to Sydney Community Services – the person who rings will be transferred to the Community Care Advisor, who will then find out more about the persons situation and offer information and ideas about the available options in the local community.
Website: http://www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/Pages/Home.aspx
Key facts
Main target group: Vulnerable older people (e.g. at risk or victims of abuse, living alone, poor etc.)
Sector(s): Health, Information and communication, Social protection
Desired outcome for older people:
Meet their basic needs
- Inclusion
- Participation