It is no mean feat to produce a newsletter every day but to do it for 200 consecutive days and in seven languages in the midst of a pandemic is an impressive achievement. And to make it even more impressive is the fact that the Daily Bulletin is the work of 20 aged care volunteers, a sector that has borne the worst of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The publication has helped to keep up the spirits of aged care residents in 40 Arcare facilities in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
“What started as a small idea has grown into a thriving team that is full of energy, creativity and shares a heart for doing all we can to help the elderly find something to smile about in the midst of these challenging days,” said Arcare Volunteer Coordinator Margaret Furlong.
She said the organisation set up The Daily Bulletin with its daily riddles, facts, jokes, and features highlighting iconic and historic events to boost the morale of its residents and staff.
The newsletter is produced in English but also translated into six other languages – Greek, Italian, Spanish, German, Portuguese and Hungarian fir non-English speaking residents. Ms Furlong said she hoped to introduce more languages for the publication.
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Matt Callan, who has been volunteering in aged care for 15 years as a singer, records an audio version of the bulletin for the residents who can’t read the material. He was among the many volunteers who have provided additional support during COVID-19 pandemic.
“Now that I’m semi-retired, I have more time to give towards causes that are important to me, including volunteering in aged care,” said Mr Callan. “I was already a volunteer at Arcare Malvern East and when I was approached to produce a ‘talking bulletin’ for the weekends, I was happy to be involved.”
The volunteers who are from all walks of life meet every fortnight to discuss relevant topics and set the agenda for the publication.
Each day is themed – Motivating Monday, Technology Tuesday, Wellness Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, Feel Good Friday – to ensure content is uplifting and stimulating for its readers.
“As we have adjusted to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all had to find a new way of doing the things we love. Whether it’s staying in touch with friends or family, staying creative or keeping our minds active, we have all had to adapt and stay positive. The same has applied to volunteering at Arcare. We hope to see more new faces join our program,” said Ms Furlong.
♦ For more information about Arcare’s volunteer program visit the Arcare website link.