I work for a charity that supports older people - what support can we offer during this situation?

[CharityWorker1]

We are already getting offers of help from people wanting to volunteer.
We normally help people with their shopping online - but that's going to be difficult when the slots have been taken.
We do have a list of people we support through befriending and we have a database of people who we know are out there and could do with support.

It's going to be a very busy time for us - many of us have families as well who we are worried about - and we are worried about passing on any virus to older people who we support.

We have our plans - but I was wondering what sort of things people would think we could be doing and co-ordinating if necessary.

Boxes of essentials that could be left on the doorstep ? Maybe locals could donate items, as to a food bank ? Not sure how to still avoid contact with others - a collection box ?

Could one online delivery slot be coordinated for multiple people with a volunteer to then drop the individuals orders ?

What about getting people set up with video calling?

What about on line lectures...like U3A events on line?

It's the isolation that worries me. Many of our clients are already isolated - but this could make it much worse.

Many of them also struggle with technology.

I have thought about the ways food can be delivered. I was just listening to a report about some older people being worried about going to the supermarket.

Collecting prescriptions and following up with gps for repeats
helping to negotiate breaks in payments/apply for benefits as needed.

I'm trying to arrange food parcels for service users I'm aware that are too afraid to go out at the minute or who have found the shelves empty when their benefits have finally came in. I'm hugely constrained though as I'm quickly running out of food stuffs in our emergency food bank and finding it difficult to get staples.

Collecting prescriptions and following up with gps for repeats

Great idea.

Our benefits team usually spend several hours filling in forms at someone's house - so we are looking at doing that over the phone - but than could be very hard on a client.

Maybe calls/Skype. If they are wary of going out there is the risk of loneliness or listening to wild stories on radio/reading Facebook craziness.

Also if they are told to self isolate it will be much worse.

I know that some clients still use cash and go to the bank or post office to pay their bills.

That is something that we need to think about.

Is there anything else people think we could be doing?

I am sure we will discuss all this tomorrow morning at work - so any ideas would be useful.