Reflections on calling the elderly

One part of my part-time job working for a South Australian politician during the COVID-19 pandemic has been calling elderly people, checking in on their wellbeing and offering any assistance they might need. This has been both an eye-opening and ultimately rewarding experience, at least for me, and hopefully for those I have called.

Each call usually follows a pretty similar pattern. I’ll introduce myself and where I am calling from. The elderly person will usually ask who that is and why they are calling them (usually in a pretty gruff tone!). I will explain that I am calling as a courtesy to check in and make sure they are doing OK and aren’t too isolated during these challenging times.

Almost always, their tone of voice immediately softens. They say how appreciative they are that someone is thinking of them, that someone is taking the time to call. Almost none of them require any physical assistance – they have all managed to get their groceries either during the priority hours at the supermarkets or via delivery from a loved one. But you can tell, just in their tone of voice, how much it means to have someone calling for no other reason than just to check in and chat.

I end up talking to some for a while. I have learned to discern when they are legitimately doing fine, usually the mention of children or friends coming to see them or calling them every day is a tip off, and when others linger on the line, eager just to continue shooting the breeze for a bit longer.

While the social restrictions stemming from the pandemic are effecting everyone in some way, they are particularly acute on the elderly, who are already more likely to be isolated. I am doing it for work, but if you know of any older people, perhaps neighbours or grandparents of friends, don’t hesitate to give them a call or pop a note in their letterbox. It might just make their day, and yours.