If you’re a senior and you are currently residing in Australia, avail of this very beneficial service the Red Cross family is offering, the Telecross. The Telecross program is designed and developed by Australian Red Cross to assist older adults with mobility problems as well as those partially disabled individuals who are prone to accidents especially if without in-house caregivers or living alone. It also comes in handy for those cases wherein the referred person is receiving little or no family care. This is an ongoing service for more than 20 years now with estimated thousands of volunteers who patiently make those calls in time every day, 24/7.
Basically in a Telecross community program, volunteers call individuals assigned to them every morning to check them up and ask if there’s something in particular the receiving end needs. This is also done to ensure these individuals are safe and not needing any immediate medical help as of the moment. If and when the older adult requires some help, they are quickly referred to the proper authority to handle their needs. However, if the senior failed to pick up the call, an emergency team is alerted at once and a visit to the senior’s home is made. These calls are done according to specified time the receiving end sets—when it’s most convenient for them to take a call. This service can also be availed temporarily for those who won’t need the service for a long time; in such cases as caregiver in leave or the senior in question is migrating to other place soon.
Mostly, Telecross is offered for free but one can make a donation if he or she feels like it since the program also requires paid resources for it to continue working on. Registration is just a phone call away; you can refer yourself or anyone whom you wanted to receive such service. As soon as the quick registration is complete, calls are made within the next day and will last until your specified date.
This community program proves to be very beneficial for both volunteer and the person assigned to them; it builds friendship overtime and it provides a sense of security for seniors who availed Telecross. There are many ways to support this existing Red Cross program such as: volunteering, referring a senior, registering yourself to the program and contributing financially either by sponsorship or donorship. Even corporations who would want to participate in the said program may do so by volunteering their entire staff in doing the calls every morning.
Check out if the program exists in your area through Australian Red Cross website.
