Elderly given vital help through calls
DOZENS of elderly residents have been helped by Carmarthenshire Council’s trading standards team through welfare telephone calls in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some of the residents helped include a 93-yearold in self isolation, who normally relies on a family member for support, and was unable to access essential food and medication as the relevant family member was, at the time, in self isolation.
Also, a consumer in selfisolation was found to be suffering from severe mental health issues as well as a respiratory condition. They required extra support as they had been unable to access essential goods, and were found to be living off yoghurts and diet drinks due to an eating disorder.
Council staff were able to identify high risk residents through the council’s Truecall nuisance call blocking systems and provide them with support during the coronavirus outbreak.
The majority of people using the call blocker are said to be over the age of 80. Since the project was established in 2013, trading standards officers have installed and monitored 120 Truecall devices.
The device has blocked over 76,189 nuisance telephone calls and has prevented some of the county’s most vulnerable residents from being scammed over the phone.
Other residents requiring assistance included an 81-year-old living alone who expressed concerns regarding the sustainability of their arrangement for accessing essential goods and services should their neighbours become unwell. The consumer also needed to access money held in their bank account. Council staff contacted the consumer’s bank to arrange for money to be withdrawn by a third party and deliver the money to the consumer.
An elderly, vulnerable couple in self-isolation required support as they were facing difficulty in organising the collection and delivery of their monthly prescriptions.
A consumer, who has now been given support, was confused when their cleaner, who normally gets food on their behalf, had failed to do so. It was unclear whether they were self-isolating themselves.
Trading standards officers are responsible for enforcing legislation associated with fair trading, fraud, weights and measures, safety, age restricted products and trademarks.
The calls also provided an opportunity to review the performance of the call blocking devices.
The council’s executive board member for public protection, Councillor Philip Hughes said: “The majority of the consumers who have the call blocking facility are over 80 and are particularly vulnerable during this difficult time.
“Particularly with the social distancing measures, it was likely they would be experiencing difficulty in obtaining essential goods and services. By making these telephone calls we were able to find out if any assistance was required and provide them with it. The calls were also a welcome friendly voice to some who are feeling lonely and might not have any family or friends to talk to.”