St John established Caring Caller in 1996 to provide a friendship and health check service via the telephone. Caring Caller is a free friendship-based service provided over the telephone.

The objective is to offer friendship and to check that all is well. Volunteers phone their allocated client or clients usually on a daily basis and in normal circumstances they never meet.

This is one of the rules that ensure the demands placed on the caller are controlled and the privacy of the client is protected. In addition to the no meeting rule, caller and client are each given only the first name of the other, the client is not given the callers phone number and neither party knows the physical address of the other.

The programmes mission is: To be recognised as the provider of choice for a daily contact service to older, at risk house bound people anywhere in New Zealand. The service now operates in four of the five St John regions in New Zealand.

Volunteers- October 2007; 1,023

When a potential client is referred to the programme, the district Caring Caller Coordinator contacts the person to explain what the programme involves and to get to know them little, find out their interests and what time they would prefer to be contacted. Sometimes the potential client will be visited by the Coordinator to establish a relationship with St John and make them feel more comfortable about using the service.

The client is then matched to a particular volunteer who has similar interests and for whom the preferred call time is compatible. A regular call from someone with similar interests and enthusiasm for life can provide a much needed stimulation for people with active minds who are interested in what is going on in the outside world, but are isolated at home on their own or with others who are too ill or withdrawn to provide interesting conversation. In addition to friendship, the daily call allows the Caring Caller to check on the client’s well-being and (if required) to check that they have taken any medication or completed any other required activities.

The length of the call varies widely depending on the wishes of the client and the time the caller has to give. Most calls last from five to fifteen minutes but some last for up to an hour. If the caller feels there is a reason for concern about the well-being of the client, the Caring caller will contact the designated person as set out in the agreed action plan. In someregions the callers contact the local Caring Caller Coordinator.

One of the team members/coordinators will contact a listed next of kin, or if that person is not available, a neighbour. If no-one is available to check that the client is okay, the team member will physically visit the property and may also call for emergency help (usually a St John Ambulance).

 In most cases the caller and client never meet yet the strength of the friendships that can develop from these regular calls can have a significant impact on the quality of life of both client and caller. The service can assist individuals (particularly the elderly) to maintain their independence for longer than might otherwise be the case. A common response by clients during the field interviews was that Caring Caller has removed the fear or worry of living (or dying) alone and has given them peace of mind.

For families of Caring Caller clients the service reduces pressure on them to provide daily support. Knowing their parents will get a daily call to check they are okay or that they have taken their medicine provides peace of mind to family members who are dealing with multiple demands. Some of the Caring Callers are themselves quite elderly and physically frail and someyounger volunteers are housebound due to physical disability. Others are limited in their ability to work outside the come by child-care or other home care duties.

The nature of theCaring Caller service enables all these people to make a meaningful contribution to society and to the social well-being of isolated people.

Benefits for clients
Friendship
Counseling/empathy
Intellectual stimulation
Renewed confidence, self-esteem and motivation
Improved health
Prolonged independence
Reduced dependence on family members
Reduced fear of being alone
Practical help that improves quality of life

Benefits for families of clients
Reduced pressure on family members
Peace of mind
Improves couple and family relationships

Benefits for health professionals
Reduction in workloads of Needs Assessors
Reduced pressure on health workers to meet non-clinical nneds
Facilitating an enhanced quality of care
Limited administrative requirements

Benefits for the volunteers
Sense of achievement / satisfaction / purpose
Friendship and widened social networks
Increased knowledge, skills and interests
Opportunity to contribute to society and St John

If you are interested in being a member of caring callers, please phone the Arrowtown Village Association on 03-4421616