VULNERABLE people across Perth are receiving 'I'm OK cards' with happy and sad faces on either side to put in their windows during the COVID-19 crisis.
This is one of the ways WA not-for-profit community-based organisation, Community Vision is getting creative to support their home care and social centre customers.
The organisation has around 900 community-based clients throughout Perth - the vast majority of their client base is made up of Western Australia's most vulnerable.
They have introduced 'I'm OK' cards. One side of the card is green with a happy face, the other is red with a sad face. Every customer has been sent this card in the mail and asked to display it in the front window of their home, one which is visible from the street.
Over the coming weeks Community Vision will drive by their customers' homes daily, keeping an eye out for the cards which will inform them if someone needs help.
Angela Lee, 82, from Clarkson is pleased with the new program. "This is a great initiative. Knowing that I have someone looking out for me during this time is a great weight off my shoulders," she said.
Community Vision chief operating officer, Yvonne Timson, said: "We are committed to keeping our community safe and well. These are unprecedented times we are facing, and it is organisations like ours who really need to step up and do all we can to look after our customers, many of whom live alone."
Community Vision is also ensuring their customers maximise the use of technology, as it offers options like virtual customer catch-ups and welfare checks, weekly communication updates and access to online COVID-19 resource hubs.
They are also offering the option to rent out iPads for those without access to the technology, to help reduce social isolation.
"We are making daily calls to our customers, but where possible we want to move this to virtual check-ins so we can see them face to face, giving them a stronger interaction and really gauge how we think they are coping," said Ms Timson.
"We want to help them to adapt to the latest technologies available in a time when it is needed most.
"For example, we have also created online medication prompts via video calls for customers if they want or need to go into isolation."
For around 40 customers from the Woodvale Social Centre who would have been having a meal at the centre, these are now being delivered to their door.
"We are all going into overdrive to protect our most vulnerable, and for Community Vision, this is our entire customer base so we have an important job on our hands and we are doing our very best to make the necessary changes and adapt to this ever changing situation."
'Staying connected'
Meanwhile, in Victoria staff in City of Ballarat's Active Ageing program are working to support elderly residents through the COVID-19 crisis.
The team is focusing on maintaining social connections and providing opportunities to engage in health and well-being activities during the challenging time of social distancing and isolation.
Active Ageing executive manager Ann Pitt said many elderly residents in Ballarat live alone and were following directions to remain socially isolated.
"We need to be able to keep them active and doing things," she said. "We don't want anyone to not be okay through this process. As much as we can we are staying connected with everyone."
The Meals On Wheels program is continuing to deliver meals to residents every day, with heightened safety requirements to ensure the safety of workers and residents.
The Active Ageing team has started a new program called Friendly Phone Calls and is facilitating the connection of people in regular social programs through their phones, iPads, laptops and other devices.
Staff are working to develop new program Armchair Travel, for people to connect face to face through technology and share stories and photos of their travels.
Another program focuses on maintaining active minds, through activities like verbal crosswords and sudoko.
Staff are also working to create short videos that showcase gentle exercises residents can do in their homes and their backyards.
They are are also calling to check on program participants each week and are contacting family members to ask if any further assistance is needed if family members can no longer travel to Ballarat under.
Ms Pitt said the response from residents had been 'overwhelmingly positive'.
"One of the lovely things is that they are asking staff who are contacting them how they are going," she said.
"That is that 'be kind' in the community where people are working together, understanding everyone is in the same boat travelling the same way. It is how we do it together.
"We are also reminding people to be kind. If you know your neighbours, give them a call or shout out over the fence to keep that connection."
More than 2800 people are registered with the Active Ageing program, with 900 in the social connection program.
Anyone who is interested in joining the program can call 5320 5631.
Senior citizens centres in Ballarat are closed during the coronavirus pandemic.
'Virtual hugs'
Families and friends are being asked to send virtual hugs to loved ones in Benetas aged care facilities in Victoria.
The residential aged care provider has a new online Virtual Hug tool on its website, where people can share written messages of hope and love and photos.
Benetas chief executive Sandra Hills said sharing messages of love and compassion are more than "feelgood warm and fuzzies".
"As a provider of aged care and community health, we want to remind the community that while they mightn't be able to physically see or visit their loved ones during this period, relationships and love will never be postponed or cancelled."
Benetas has also launched a positive news and stories hub to share kind acts in its network and across Australia.
'Stay connected'
Council of the Ageing Victoria said many older Australians were feeling scared and anxious about being in isolation and contracting coronavirus.
Chief executive Tina Hogarth-Clarke said COTA Victoria was receiving daily phone calls to its helpline and information lines from older people and their family members who were distressed, experiencing anxiety and were fearful for the future.
"We've all become aware of what we need to do to reduce the incidence of COVID-19, but it's important to support people experiencing anxiety and to think creatively about how we can stay connected and how we can practice self-care," she said.
Whilst improvement in technology provides online contact and access to face to face opportunities via mobile phones, tablets and computers, research by the eSafety Commission revealed 57 per cent of Australians aged 70 or older have no digital literacy.
Ms Hogarth-Clarke said the telephone, either fixed or mobile, was the easiest and most accessible means for regular contact with older Australians.
"The sound of a friendly understanding voice on the end of the phone should never be underrated in such times of stress which many isolated older Australians are experiencing," she said.
"Given the expected ongoing COVID-19 health emergency, COTA Victoria is urging family, friends and neighbours to make regular reassuring phone calls to check on and boost the spirits of family, friends and neighbours whilst also checking on their health."
The COTA Information helpline,1300-135-090, will continue to operate during the coronavirus pandemic Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4pm and can provide information for people who cannot access it online.
For online information on coronavirus from COTA go HERE
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