If you have some time to spare, enjoy listening and would like to enrich the life of someone from Fairview Retirement Village, then you should consider volunteering for the Community Visitor’s Scheme.
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The program, run by Centacare at the Moree, Inverell and Warialda retirement homes, invites community members to regularly visit residents who don’t have family members nearby or are simply a little lonely.
“There’s a lot of lonely people in these places and not everyone has family to visit. Sometimes you need someone outside family just for a chat,” coordinator of the Community Visitor’s Scheme, Helen Moy said.
“That’s the idea, to talk to someone, or go visit someone who is lonely and who doesn’t get many visitors.”
There are currently about seven volunteers who visit residents at Fairview, however Ms Moy would love to see more people get involved in the program, particularly more men.
She said the scheme is rewarding for both residents and visitors.
“I think the benefits are for both people … both get a lot out of it,” Ms Moy said.
“For the resident it’s a great benefit for them and for the volunteer who loves to have a chat.”
Karen Brown has been volunteering for about six years and during that time has visited with four ladies, including her latest companion, Laurel Briant.
Ms Brown said she loves visiting the residents at Fairview and hearing all about their lives.
“I just come and sit and talk to them,” she said.
“It’s amazing, the lives they’ve had. I just love listening to their stories … it’s so interesting.”
Ms Brown has been visiting Ms Briant for a couple of months, after Ms Briant moved to Fairview from Ayr in Queensland.
Ms Briant’s son and daughter-in-law live in Moree, but other than that she doesn’t know anyone.
She said the Community Visitor’s Scheme is a great idea.
“It’s someone to talk to,” she said.
Anyone who wishes to volunteer with the program will be interviewed by Fairview’s activities officer to determine which resident they were most likely to relate to. They will also need a police check.
Ms Moy said volunteering isn’t a huge commitment and often residents don’t want visitors staying for too long as it tires them out. Some visitors simply stop by to have a chat, some take short walks around the grounds and others even give musical performances.
“You don’t have to come every week, as long as it’s once a fortnight,” Ms Moy said.
To volunteer, phone Helen Moy on 67 295 091 or 0428 473 974.
