The Isle of Anglesey County Council is looking for “good neighbours” to help watch out for the elderly during the winter.
Although the recent snow and ice didn’t affect Anglesey as badly as other areas, Social Services want to ensure that all vulnerable people remain safe and well in their homes.
The Head of Anglesey’s Internal Provider Unit, Carys Emyr Edwards, explained, “We will inevitably experience similar harsh weather conditions in the future and as such want to ensure that the elderly and housebound are cared for in our communities.”
“We’re appealing, therefore, for members of the public to come forward and volunteer to act as a ‘good neighbours’ should the bad weather strikes again. This would simply involve visiting an elderly or housebound neighbour to make sure that they have enough food and are keeping warm. This would be of great help especially at times when bad weather can hamper the best efforts of our home care staff.”
Anglesey’s Home Care Service provides care for people in their own homes and it is a service which many rely on for their food, warmth and well being.
The Authority worked hard last month to ensure that clients who rely on this vital service were not affected as a result of the snow and ice. A number of contingency plans were implemented to ensure that home carers were able to provide clients with a continuous service. This involved utilising many of the Authority’s 4×4 vehicles and drivers to deliver meals as well as making alternative arrangements with families when conditions were deemed too dangerous for a carer to visit.
Social Services portfolio holder, Councillor Robert Lloyd Hughes, expressed his gratitude to the Authority’s home carers who battled the elements to visit their clients recently.
He added, “We also hope to see people volunteering to join our proposed good neighbour initiative. Their support would undoubtedly complement the fine work already undertaken by our home carers, who make an invaluable contribution to the lives of elderly and housebound residents across the Island.”
Anyone who would like to act as a ‘Good Neighbour’ on Anglesey should contact Rachel Roberts on (01248) 752066.
