COMMUNITY CARE ENSURING ACCESS TO ESSENTIALS FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITY
Published on 06 April 2020
Gilgandra Lifestyle’s Community Care team are working tirelessly to ensure that vulnerable persons will continue to have access to essentials, with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the Gilgandra community.
Community Care offer a number of elderly and vulnerable residents Meals on Wheels services, welfare checks and shopping and delivery services.
Community Care staff are working directly with local business to assist in ensuring this gets to those within our community who need it, while keeping them as safe as possible in their homes.
Director Community Services, Jo Manion says,
“Our priority is ensuring that residents and staff stay safe while accessing essentials during this time. It is important that we are keeping the elderly and the vulnerable within our community safe with the impacts of this virus continuing to impact communities.”
Through the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) and with redeployed frontline staff, Gilgandra Shire Council is offering assistance in the delivery of items to the vulnerable in our community.
General Manager, David Neeves says,
“With the increase in demand for home delivery services, as well as monitoring the impact to the community for those elderly or vulnerable residents, Council wanted to offer our assistance in ensuring that essential items could be received. Council staff will be assisting Carlos Supa IGA in home deliveries, with a particular focus on existing clients of Community Care, Gilgandra Lifestyles or Council volunteers in a high risk category.”
Staff are also working with wholesalers to ensure the stock of essentials and supplies, including toilet paper, sanitiser, masks and cleaning goods.
Mr Neeves says,
“Woolworths have twice supplied Community Care with a delivery of complimentary toilet rolls, which will enable staff to deliver rolls to all Meals on Wheels customers, approximately 40 clients, and are hopeful to be able to provide an additional two deliveries over the coming weeks.”
Council has asked volunteers that fall into a higher risk category, as determined by NSW Health for the COVID-19 virus to postpone their usual volunteering duties with Council, which included those volunteering for Community Care. With the closure or changes to other departments within Council, staff have been redeployed to assist Community Care in delivering these and other services.
Mr Neeves says,
“It is important we can continue to support staff through these changes as we adapt and respond to the COVID-19 situation. The Councillor’s and I wish to sincerely express our gratitude to all staff that are on the front line whom are either caring for residents and clients or delivering services.
To everyone else, we wish to thank you for your concerted efforts over the last few weeks. We are not in this position without the hard work by so many.”
Council would also like to ask those that are interested in volunteering for a phone tree service in Gilgandra to check in on isolated or vulnerable persons to please contact Council on 6817 8800 or enjoy@gilgandra.nsw.gov.au.
Council is continually reviewing the COVID-19 situation and ongoing advice from Federal and State Governments and NSW Health to ensure appropriate response measures are implemented.
Further information on NSW Health measures and advice in combating COVID-19 are available at | www.health.nsw.gov.au/coronavirus.
Residents are also encouraged to stay up to date with Council’s response locally by visiting www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/news
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Contact:
Jo Manion
Director Community Services
02 6817 8800