FOR a couple of years Orange Telecare volunteer Joan Sanders has phoned John Hahn each morning to reach out, communicate and check on Mr Hahn’s wellbeing.
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Despite their daily conversations, the duo only came face to face for the first time yesterday at a Telecare volunteers thank-you lunch in Orange.
“It’s good to meet him face to face, when you meet them you don’t feel like you are talking to a wall,” Mrs Sanders said.
Mrs Sanders became a Telecare volunteer, phoning vulnerable, elderly people in the community, about 10 years ago because it was something she could do to help people despite being visually impaired.
The duo were among a group of 24 volunteers and clients to attend the lunch.
Jan Bradley signed on with Telecare nine years ago and enjoys getting her daily call.
“I live on my own, it’s nice to know that someone rings to see that I’m okay because I’ve got a bad heart,” she said.
“It’s lifesaving to have somebody call you and have a bit of a chat to you each morning.”
Gwen Symons said she signed up to the program because she had a bad back and was unable to get out often.
“You don’t feel as alone, you feel as though there’s someone there,” she said.
In the years she has been receiving the calls Mrs Symons says she has had a few medical emergencies where the caller has followed the emergency procedure when she didn’t pick up.
“They get very concerned if you don’t answer,” she said.
For Byron Stevens there has been a role reversal. Mr Stevens started with the program as a caller, but now receives calls, and has befriended his volunteer.
“We have coffee and things, we’ve been doing it for some years. It’s been good for all of us,” he said.
Caller Robyn Johns started volunteering with Telecare following her husband’s death.
“I feel it’s not just about helping the person you ring, it’s helping you too,” she said.
Telecare has been running in Orange for 25 years and provides a daily telephone call by a volunteer to a frail older person or people with a disability living alone.
To volunteer or request assistance contact Orange City Council Choices at Home on 6393 8966.