[ad_1]
Once a month for the past twelve years, volunteers from the non-profit association Äldrekontakts have brought lonely old men together for coffee. Volunteers invite, bake, and transport those who have difficulty getting to the meeting.
– The same day that Tegnell came out and said that we should protect the elderly, we had to cancel all our activities. Half of our elderly need support to walk, some see and hear poorly and need guidance. It was not possible to meet and keep their distance, says Therese Gyll.
When it became clear that the pandemic would not end in the near future, the association changed its activities to continue to counteract the loneliness of the more than 800 people with whom they have contact.
– The social need has never been greater. Those who are already isolated become even more isolated. What we’ve done is we’ve moved to the phone, says Therese Gyll.
Coffee and phone chat
Physical coffee breaks were replaced by group conversations on the phone. And conference calls that used to be offered once a month are now held every two weeks.
– A teacher talks for about half an hour and then you argue with each other and with the teacher. So you get intellectual stimulation in addition to social stimulation, says Therese Gyll.
Lectures can be about everything from root and square deductions to the history of lollipops. Among others, the political scientist Jenny Madestam and the actor Sven Melander have lectured.
– Next week we have with the police who will talk about how to avoid telephone scammers. Our target group is exposed, so that’s great, says Therese Gyll.
Conversations about Christmas celebrations before
About 80 different groups in 34 different municipalities organize coffee breaks over the phone and many of them have planned a little special for Lucia and Christmas. In some groups, coffee will be baked and distributed, in a contagious way, to the participants.
– Many will talk about how Christmas was celebrated in the past. There is often a lot of joy and power in remembering what it was like before, when you were strong and in the middle of life and your traditions.
The group talks are attended by one or two volunteers and a small group of older people who call the same number to socialize for a while.
– We talk about what happens in life, if something has been seen on TV, we breathe thoughts. The elderly have the opportunity to speak with other people who find themselves in the same situation in these extreme circumstances.
The volunteers are just over 900 and between 18 and 86 years old.
– Most are between 35 and 45 years old, that is, those who are already quite full in life, says Therese Gyll and adds:
– What unites all the volunteers is that they care about the elderly and want to give something in return.
Ellinor Knoxborn / TT
[ad_2]
