RMIT University Health Transformation Lab deputy director Matiu Bush founded One Good Street and recommends seeking out established organisations
to offer help. "Many people are motivated to form collectives at the moment, but my advice is to be collaborative and respectful to groups who have been
working in this space for years," he says. "Groups like Rotary, the Red Cross, volunteer home visitor schemes, are all parts of society that are already
working to reduce isolation and loneliness in older people. "We can share resources and tap into those groups because they have the smarts on how to
do this well." https://www.abc.net.au/life/
And when the pandemic passes? Mr Bush says the best thing we can do, is keep checking in on our neighbours. "What everyone should be working
towards is a deeper connection and more meaningful connection after the pandemic is over," Mr Bush says. "That's important because you don't want to
introduce a whole lot of new people to someone in their 80s or 90s and then for all of those people to vanish afterwards, because that's introducing more
loss into those people's lives. "There will be other challenges for communities and the idea is to forge connections that will last that are based on respect,
understanding and the importance and value of older people in our community."
Relationships Australia national executive officer Nick Tebbey says letterbox drops are an ideal way to offer help as they allow social-distancing and give the recipient a chance to tell you what they really need. But remember — before you go spreading love, you need to follow official health guidelines to make sure you're not spreading anything else.
Services you can offer that don't involve physical contact might include:
- Delivering groceries or medical supplies;
- Mowing the lawn or helping in the garden;
- friendly chat over the fence (at a distance of at least 1.5 metres) or on the phone.
