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Glenside neighbours do careEastern Courier by Emily Charrison
Arriving in 2007, the 37-year-old settled at Port Adelaide for a brief stint before moving to Glenside, where she decided to “give something back” to her new community. SIx months ago Mrs Jilani joined Uniting Care Wesley’s neighbourhood support program Do Care, aimed at stamping out social isolation, and met 83-year-old Malvern woman Nan. “I visit her every Tuesday, we go walking together, window shopping and have coffees,” Mrs Jilani said. “I love spending time with people a little older than me because I was really close to my grandmother and missed her a lot when I came to Australia.” Although the friendship has filled a void in Mrs Jilani’s life, it is Nan who considers herself the lucky one. “She’s a lovely lady and I enjoy having her around,” Nan said. “I think it’s very important people get to know the people they live around, that way they are there if you need anything and vice versa.” Uniting Care Wesley Adelaide community development worker Jacqui Barnden said she was always looking for volunteers to join the Do Care program. “It’s about linking the community and building connections between generations,” she said. “I’ve got one volunteer who has been visiting an elderly woman for 10 years and they’ve become family.” Something as simple as bringing in rubbish bins or hanging out washing could make a big difference. Uniting Care welcomed Messenger’s Know Your Neighbour campaign, as it reinforced the same aims. “Generally people are very willing to do something that only takes a short time, but it is important to build up connections throughout the community,” Ms Barden said. “Neighbours should know who their neighbours are.” Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council runs a Community Care Home Maintenance program to provide support for the elderly and disabled who do not have neighbours or family to help them. “Things that are too small to bring in a professional tradesperson, but too difficult for individuals to do themselves such as changing light globes and cleaning gutters,” program coordinator Rosanna Busolin said. “It’s amazing how important these small things are to help the elderly remain independent and stay in their own homes.”
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