The Coronavirus Pandemic has changed life for everyone, and to the greatest extent for our elderly relatives. Daily tasks such as collecting prescriptions, food shopping and seeing friends are now considered dangerous.
With non-essential travel banned, it is very difficult to continue the same relationship you may usually have with elderly parents. This is especially true if you live a distance away, are unwell yourself or your relative has been asked by the NHS to shield completely as they are extremely vulnerable. The care industry is under pressure; many carers are off sick and resources are stretched.
This means that local response is imperative. Councils, charity groups and volunteers have mobilised across Surrey to help and protect the elderly and vulnerable. In this guide, you can find initiatives and groups that can help your elderly relative living in Surrey, along with contact details.
- Surrey County Council
- Surrey Councils for Voluntary Service
- Age UK Surrey
- Facebook Groups
- Staying Connected
Where to find Coronavirus Support for your Relatives in Surrey
Surrey County Council
The council have set up a new community helpline to direct to services that can help during the coronavirus pandemic. It is designed to support residents who need support (if family are friends are unable to help):
- picking up shopping
- prescription collections
- telephone befriending
Helpline: 0300 200 1008
The helpline is open: Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 2pm.
An SMS service for deaf and hearing impaired residents only is available on 07860 053 465, Monday to Friday, 9am- 5pm.
You can also request help for your elderly relative by filling in an online request form. You can expect to receive a response within 24 hours.
Councils for Voluntary Service
The Councils for Voluntary Service (CVSs) and Volunteer Centres are working in partnership with Surrey County Council to coordinate volunteers during the pandemic.
The CVSs help local residents who need support by matching them with volunteers. These volunteers can then assist with picking up shopping and prescriptions, telephone befriending and more, from a safe distance. Volunteer Centres are the hubs where volunteers and resources are organised.
The CVSs and Volunteer Centres in Surrey are listed below with contact details.
Elmbridge
- Central Surrey Voluntary Action: 01372 722911
- Elmbridge Volunteer Centre: 01372 463587
Epsom and Ewell
- Central Surrey Voluntary Action: 01372 722911
- Epsom and Ewell Volunteer Centre: 01372 722911
Guildford and Waverley
- Voluntary Action South West Surrey: 01483 565456
- Guildford and Waverley Volunteer Centre: 01483 565456
Mole Valley
- Central Surrey Voluntary Action: 01372 722911
- Mole Valley Volunteer Centre: 01306 640369
Reigate and Banstead
- Voluntary Action Reigate and Banstead: 01737 763 156
- Reigate and Banstead Volunteer Centre: 01737 762 115
Runnymede
- Voluntary Support North Surrey: 01932 571122
- Runnymede Volunteer Centre: 01932 571122
Spelthorne
- Voluntary Support North Surrey: 01932 571122
- Spelthorne Volunteer Centre: 01784 465536
Surrey Heath
- Voluntary Support North Surrey: 01932 571122
- Surrey Heath Volunteer Centre: 01276 66798
Tandridge
- Voluntary Action Tandridge: 01883 722000
- Tandridge Volunteer Centre: 07741 657190 / 07741 657182
Woking
- Woking Volunteer Centre: 01483 755 855
Age UK Surrey
Age UK in Surrey have changed deployment in their resources to respond to the crisis. Staff have coordinated the services below and volunteers have stepped forward to help.
Emergency Shopping Service
A free service available to older people who are not be able to access online food deliveries, or are worried about going to the shops.ย Theย Emergency Shopping Serviceย is for people who need essential items such as food and prescriptions.ย
Age UK Surrey match people who need support with a volunteer who lives nearby. For more information about the service, or to sign your elderly relative up please find contact details below.
Check in and Chat Calls
Age UK Surrey are offering a new telephone service – Check in and Chat – to people across the county. Volunteers are matched with people who would like to call to combat loneliness during this time.
Contact
Telephone: 01483 503414
Email: [email protected]
Facebook Groups
Local communities are increasingly communicating through Facebook groups. To respond to the coronavirus pandemic, many local communities have set up new Facebook groups to share resources and offer help to the most vulnerable. Joining a group in your elderly relative’s local area means you can connect with local residents who want to help. Neighbours can bring supplies and check-in on your relative from a safe distances whilst you may be unable to.
Below are active Facebook groups across Surrey mobilising responses to look after the vulnerable. There are also some smaller groups for villages – use Facebook to search ‘village name’ and ‘coronavirus’ if your relative’s area is not listed below.
- Acts of Kindness,Spelthorne-Covid-19 response
- Community Over Corona – Guildford
- Coronavirus Woking Mutual Aid
- Dorking and Surrounds Covid19 community support group
- Elmbridge Coronavirus Support
- Godalming & Farncombe Community Corona Virus Assistance
- Farnham and Villages Coronavirus Support Group
- Redhill Covid-19 Mutual AID – Surrey
- Reigate & Redhill Covid19 mutual aid
- Runnymede COVID-19 MUTUAL AID
Staying Connected
Not being able to visit your relative may cause worry over them becoming lonely, especially if they live alone. Regular contact is vital for maintaining mental well being! Technology can provide the answer to this however can bring some challenges.
Age Space has put together some simple step by step guides to setting up video-calling on different applications including WhatsApp, Skype and House Party. Please visit our Using Tech in Older Age page for more information.