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Wellsford library assistant Jessica Hallam found herself thrust into a new role of bringing comfort to lonely seniors during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Although Jessica still had work to do during lockdown, including maintaining Wellsford library’s Facebook page, she was keen to do more.
When Auckland library staff were invited to make welfare calls to over-70-year-olds living on their own, as part of Auckland Emergency Management’s Covid-19 response, Jessica leapt at the chance.
Jessica found herself making more than 400 calls over four days. With few seniors able to leave home, about 95 per cent of the calls were answered and could last anywhere from three to 15 minutes.
“It was seven or eight hours a day sitting in the same place, making phone calls one after the other,” Jessica says.
Jessica says she did not feel like talking much by the end of the day, but says it was well worth the effort.
“The pleasure of making these phone calls and making these connections, and knowing that you have made a difference in a person’s day outweighed the tiredness,” she says.
She adds that librarians were under no pressure to conclude calls and could let seniors talk as long as they wanted.
She says most seniors appeared to have the support they needed and were fond of talking up how helpful their neighbours and family members had been.
Many seniors proved active and inventive in continuing to make connections. Some living in the same retirement village would delegate one of their number to turn up their music loud at a certain point each day, then everyone would step outside their individual apartments and dance.
Those who appeared to struggle the most were those who had recently lost a wife or a husband.
Lockdown only deepened their sense of isolation and loneliness. One recent widower broke down and cried as Jessica spoke to him.
“I felt bad for reminding him of his situation, and I apologised. But he said, ‘It’s okay, I really appreciate the phone call’,” Jessica says.
Some seniors needs were not quite so desperate. One gentleman was disappointed he had not been able to buy any spirits.
“He asked me if I had any hanging around and could I provide him with any? I had to say ‘no’, unfortunately I can’t,” Jessica laughs.
Jessica says the seniors she contacted lived all over the Auckland region and their details were provided by the Ministry of Social Development. Librarians were given information to give to seniors about where to find extra help should they need it.
Jessica was able to refer about 20 seniors who needed help with groceries to Auckland Emergency Management.
Around 70 librarians in the Auckland region participated in the phone call scheme and between them made around 15,000 calls.
