RICHMOND resident Brian Russell, 73, has been volunteering for Hawkesbury Neighbour Aid for 12 years and is calling for other residents who have the time to offer their services.
Hawkesbury Neighbour Aid utilises a team of volunteers who assist clients over 65 years old to continue living independently in their own homes while remaining connected to the community.
Depending on clients' needs, volunteers like Mr Russell might visit them in their home for a social visit, or provide one-on-one assistance with shopping, appointments and social outings.
Mr Russell has two clients to whom he provides assistance, and he also drives the Neighbour Aid bus.
The service - funded by the Commonwealth Government and auspiced by Richmond Community Services Inc - organises group outings each week to various locations and events.
"I get an awful lot out of volunteering with Neighbour Aid," said Mr Russell.
"I started because when my mother was in a nursing home, I saw how much the volunteers contributed to my mother, and I thought if they weren't here, she wouldn't get the support she needed."
"The joy you actually get working with these people and taking them out is really amazing.
"It's amazing how people get very isolated, when others don't come to see them, and they have very little conversation with the outside world. When you arrive you see their attitude has changed by the end of the day - they become quite spirited because of their involvement with someone else and that communication, sharing a part of their life with someone else, when sometimes they don't have anyone else to do that with."
Chris Piper, Hawkesbury Neighbour Aid coordinator, said the service relies its volunteers, and volunteers could provide as little as two-to-three hours every fortnight or even every month in order to be a big help.
"Volunteers are not required to provide any personal care or domestic assistance. Full training and support is provided and out of pocket expenses [such as ] petrol costs are reimbursed," Mr Piper said.
Volunteer Mr Russell said he would recommend volunteering "to everybody".
"I am involved with a lot of social groups and we're all the time talking about how to get other people to volunteer," he said.
Anyone interested in the service or interested in volunteering should contact Mr Piper on 4578 3934 or neighbouraid@rcsi.ngo.org.au.
Over 65s wanting to make use of the Hawkesbury Neighbour Aid service must obtain a referral through My Aged Care.
