The Digital Literacy Foundation has partnered with The Department of Health and Aged Care to deliver the Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme (ACVVS) for socially isolated members of the community, particularly those from cultural and linguistically diverse and/or complex vulnerability backgrounds.
Research shows that around one in three older adults report feeling lonely, due to social isolation, and that loneliness can have a serious impact on longevity, physical and mental health, and quality of life, with negative effects comparable to other well-known mortality risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.<1>
While it may be difficult to comprehend the high level of social isolation, it is important to recognise that social isolation and loneliness can be alleviated by frequent, meaningful interactions with others.
Please consider becoming an ACVVS volunteer, and help the Digital Literacy Foundation in its mission to reduce the social isolation of older Australians. We consider anyone over the age of 18 who is willing to provide consistent and ongoing companionship and friendship to an older adult. Visits can involve sitting for a chat and a cuppa, going for a walk, playing cards, or even an outing, depending on what your matched companion would like to do.
The ACVVS program requires a commitment of a minimum of one hour, once a fortnight of quality time spent with someone in either their own home or their residential aged care home.
These regular visits will help your companion by providing them with:
- A general feeling of wellbeing, with maintained or increased independence.
- Increased self-esteem and sense of purpose.
- A greater connectedness with others in their care home, community, and culture.
- Reduced feelings of loneliness,isolation, depression, and anxiety.
The Digital Literacy Foundation is dedicated to helping its volunteers build authentic social connections with those who need them. If you’d like to be involved, please complete an EOI.
To see how the ACVVS programs benefits others, watch the video here.
<1>WHO. (2021), Reducing social isolation and loneliness among older people.