Everyone benefits with Age Concern Canterbury Visiting Service
Age Concern Canterbury has established a wide range of services that help address the needs of older people in our community. The Accredited Visitor Service and Companions on Paws are befriending services that provide regular visits to older people who would like more company. The majority of older people are not severely lonely, but findings from The Social Report 2016 show that 10 percent of New Zealanders aged 65-74, and 13 percent of those aged over 75 feel lonely all, most, or some of the time. This is important, not just because loneliness is painful, but because having inadequate social relationships has been shown to be as bad for health as smoking. Loneliness has also been linked to increased likelihood of entering rest home care. You could benefit from the Visiting Services if you feel like you would like more company, or that you spend too much time on your own. If you would like a visitor, you only need to contact Age Concern Canterbury and a co-ordinator will come to see you in your home to get to know you. The co-ordinator will then match you with a carefully chosen trained volunteer who will begin to visit you for about an hour each week. “Companions on Paws” is a new addition to our visiting service where a volunteer and their companion dog will visit on a regular
basis. This service is proving popular with those older people who have had pets throughout their life, but for many reasons are now unable to do so. The relationships established through the Visiting Service are mutually beneficial. Our volunteer visitors often find the person they visit become special friends and wise mentors, while those being visited value the intellectual stimulation, humour and friendship the visits provide. Volunteers are the core to both these services, and our co-ordinators work hard to provide ongoing training and support to ensure that everyone has a rewarding, safe and enjoyable experience. If you feel like you would benefit from a visitor or wish to volunteer with us, please call our coordinators Rebecca (331 7816) or Peter (331 7809).
If you want to volunteer with your dog or would love a visit from a four-legged friend please call Bev (331 7817). Page 83
