LGBT seniors visiting service

What is the LGBT seniors visiting service?

The Seniors Community Visiting Service matches trained volunteer visitors with LGBT senior clients who feel alone or isolated from their community due to health, mobility or other issues.

The service supports clients to stay connected with others through having regular contact with their visitor for conversation, social support and/or outings. It operates alongside but not in place of other in-home care and support services that clients might receive or be looking to access.

The service is offered across the Brisbane, Sunshine and Gold Coast region.

See also "How does the Visiting Service work?"

Support the Visiting Service.

The service is funded for a 2012/13 pilot year of operation through a grant from the J.O. & J.R. Wicking Trust (managed by ANZ Trustees). During the pilot year the service will not charge a fee but we encourage clients to consider donating a one-off contribution of negotiable amount to assist with program costs.

We also welcome donations from organisations and individuals who recognise this is a valuable service that will address social isolation in LGBT Seniors and the service is the recipient of this years Healthy Communities Christmas Appeal.

A post pilot stage review will be undertaken to determine the need for a fee structure as part of agency measures to secure funds for continuation of the program.

I am a senior looking for support

Please contact Project Officer Ann Matson if you would like to be part of this program
p 07 3017 1763
e amatson@qahc.org.au

Eligable clients includes those who:

Are seeking an LGBT service.
Due to ageing and/or their health status, culture, mobility or other issues are isolated from their community.
Live alone or with another (including a partner, carer, or friend).
Live in private accomodation or a residential care facility.
Either do, or do not have other in-home supports, such as aged care packages, or informal care by others, eg. Partner, friend, relative.
Prefer to be visited in their home, or those who prefer to meet their visitor in a nearby public space, eg. A cafe, library or shopping centre.

See also "How does the Visiting Service work?"

I am keen to be a volunteer (helping seniors)

Volunteering with the Seniors Visiting Service is a great way to support the health and wellbeing of our older LGBT community members by helping keep a sense of connection with others.

All Volunteer Visitors are trained and undergo a national police check prior to matching with a client. Visitors committ to spending time with their clients on a regualr basis (minimum of one hour per week or two hours fortnightly) and over a minimum period of six months. How the client and their visitor spend time will depend on the health and situation of the individual clients but might include reading or listening to music together, chatting, watching a favourite television programs together, or going for a walk, on an outing, or to an appointment.

Visiting Service staff maintain an active role linking all parties to ensure appropriate client-visitor matches are maintained.

Contact Project Officer Ann Matson
p 07 3017 1763
e amatson@qahc.org.au

How does the Visiting Service work?

The Visiting Service will operate alongside but not in place of other in-home care and support services that clients might also require or have in place.

Clients seeking a visitor will be asked to complete a registration and profile form. The Visiting Service worker will then arrange a meeting with each cleint to discuss their situation, to assist matching with a volunteer visitor. All visitors are trained and undergo a national police check prior to matching with a client and Visiting Service staff maintain an active role linking all parties to ensure appropriate client-visitor matches are maintained and that regular time is spent visiting for a chat, going for a coffee or spending time on a hobby, activity or outing.