Minister Ken Wyatt is urging Aussies to reach out to people in residential aged care – and relatives and friends everywhere in need of company – after recently visiting an aged care home where none of the residents receive visitors.
“This is a particularly distressing situation, despite the best efforts of the aged care staff,” Minister Wyatt said.
The Minister has previously raised worries that up to 40 per cent of aged care residents don’t receive visitors.
“I believe Australia is a caring society but as our lives have become busier, we have left too many people behind,” he said.
A season for belonging
Red Cross estimates that up to 5.6 million Australians experience loneliness – with men aged over 55 most likely to feel the impact.
To combat this, they have launched a Season of belonging campaign which is encouraging people to take five steps this Christmas:
- Meet neighbours
- Volunteer
- Say hello to someone new in the neighbourhood
- Check on someone who may be in trouble
- Be kind on social media
One way to volunteer is through the Federal Government’s Community Visitors Scheme (CVS). It trains volunteers to make regular visits to people at risk of social isolation and loneliness including group visits to aged care homes and one-on-one visits with home care recipients.
“It’s up to all of us to show people, especially senior Australians, that we care and value them, by being there as much as we can,” says Minister Wyatt.
Well-said.
To get involved with the Community Visitors Scheme, click here.
