Colac Otway Shire Council staff are currently working through the important task of contacting the organisation’s 647 aged and community care services’ clients to check on their welfare while they are self-isolating.
Council’s Development and Community Services General Manager Ian Seuren said staff who had been redeployed from other parts of the organization which had been shut down in response to the COVID situation were assisting the Community Services team with welfare checks.
“Council has almost 650 clients across the shire who are elderly or vulnerable and receive care,” Mr Seuren said.
“When the community was first alerted to the COVID pandemic, Council had a small number of clients who requested home care or Meals on Wheels services be temporarily suspended as they were self-isolating or they had family who were not working and able to provide support.
“It’s important we keep in touch with our clients that our team hasn’t seen for a few weeks, and it’s also important to check if others need more support.
“Some of our older residents might not have needed services previously but might now, or they will when their family members return to work when restrictions lift.
“It’s about keeping in touch and making sure our clients are receiving the care levels they need, and also just making sure they know someone is there at the end of the phone, especially during isolation.
“Staff who work at COPACC or the Visitor Information Centres, which were forced to close to reduce the spread of COVID19, have been redeployed to make these welfare checks.
“They are asking if clients are okay, do they have enough supplies, are they getting enough exercise, how are their pets, is there anything Council can do to assist.
“We are getting a range of responses; generally our community is coping well but it is a difficult time.
“Some clients have partners in aged care homes and for various reasons they are unable to see them, they are missing social interaction, we have some living alone on farms, others are worried about their flu shot, some are enjoying isolation.
“We are encouraging our community to make regular calls to family, older neighbours or friends and if they think they need Council services to contact us on 52329400 or go online at www.colacotway.vic.gov.au and find out about eligibility and what we can provide.”
