Helping Seniors & Older People at Richmount
We would like you to respond to this. It is about how we can help our older people in a very practical way. Getting them a nutritious meal at least once a week and to combat the biggest killer of all - Isolation and Loneliness. This proposal will not start overnight but we need to know if there would be sufficient demand from our older people and if we can get volunteers.
Imagine you are an older person living on your own or even an older couple.
Would you really want to go out buy a small roast of meat, boil potatoes and vegetables for just one person? It is expensive and a lot of bother. Maybe you are not the fittest or feeling the best. Or, is it just handier to make a sandwich or grab some “fast food”.
Following discussions at our older people’s “Listen to Us ” forum* it was suggested that Richmount Rural Community Association could make traditional dinners and have them delivered by volunteers to older people in our community. This would also be an opportunity for the older people to have someone to speak to at least once a week; thus relieving loneliness and social isolation
At least it would bring them a tasty nutritious meal at least once a week.
Every Thursday the Community Association has its Richmount Elders Club where people aged 55+ come together from 11.00am to 3.30pm for activities /health/fun sessions - with fun being the most important feature, together with a home cooked traditional lunch. We understand not everyone can attend our club but we would be keen to outreach to other older people in our community in the general Portadown /Loughgall / Annaghmore / Address areas.
This initiative would only work, however, if there are volunteers who would wish to be involved in delivering a meal (s) at least once per week to an older person (s)
A charge would have to be made for the meal which would probably be in the order of £3.50. Also, we would need to establish if there is any demand from older people, but we could cater from one person upwards. Therefore, we have two questions:
- Seniors/ relatives of older people would you wish to avail of such a service?
- Would anyone wish to volunteer to make a weekly delivery to an older person and be prepared to have a quick chat with them ? (All volunteers would require AccessNI checks)
If you are interested please email joegar@hotmail.co.uk or text 07934186635
