Many older people may be struggling to carry out basic odd jobs around their homes but are apprehensive when it comes to asking for help.
That is according to Garry Moogan, a support worker who is coordinating a new project by the Westport Family and Community Resource Centre to tackle just such an issue.
The Westport centre has recently launched the Care and Repair programme, which has assembled a team of volunteers who are happy to assist older people in the community with a range of odd jobs about the house, such as changing lightbulbs, minor decorating, hanging curtains, a small gardening project, minor carpentry or installing smoke alarms.
The repair service is free and older people only have to pay for materials.
“The general guide is that we can help with anything that takes about an hour or less,” said Mr Moogan. “We don’t want to take any work away from local tradespeople. We are working on jobs that would be too small to require professional help but which many older people would have trouble tackling themselves.”
So far, 14 volunteers have signed-up and received training from Age Action and the Westport Family and Community Resource Centre.
The volunteer can also check if the older person wants to access any other services available from the Westport Family and Community Resource Centre, and can also carry out a short home check to make sure smoke alarms are fitted and are in good working order.
“We are also in the process of putting together a trade referral list of reliable and honest tradespeople who we can recommend to an older person if the job is too big for volunteers,” said Mr Moogan.
Mr Moogan said the centre is keen to get the word out about the new service.
“There are a lot of small jobs that we all take for granted until we can’t do it ourselves, such as standing on a chair to change a lightbulb.
“The problem is that older people may be wary of letting strangers into their house or asking for help. They may not have someone to ask for help.
“This is something older people can trust. All of our volunteers have garda clearance.”
Some of the other services for older people available from the Westport Family and Community Resource Centre include a weekly visit from a volunteer; a weekly social telephone call; and free IT classes.
For more information about the services or to request a Care and Repair visit, contact Garry Moogan on (098 ) 24419.
