Mobile Wardens can help with practical tasks such as making light meals, shopping, making appointments, filling in forms and collecting prescriptions, and they are a valuable source of information, helping clients to locate other services they might find useful.
By regularly visiting and keeping in contact with their clients, Mobile Wardens help to ensure that older people who want to stay in their own homes don’t become socially isolated. They offer a listening ear and help to keep people living in the communities that they know and that know them, reassuring clients and their families. They can also help to delay early transfer into care environments or help to get people home more quickly from a hospital stay.
In the 2019/2020 period, the Council supported 20 villages through 14 Mobile Warden schemes, benefiting more than 300 elderly residents. The £20,920 now available is to help fund schemes during 2020/2021.
Gillian, a Mobile Warden for Histon and Impington Community Warden Scheme, which is managed by Age UK Cambridge, said: “I enjoy the role of being a Mobile Warden as every day is different. I’m able to provide happiness and reassurance for my clients and I know that it makes a difference to the life of that person.”
Mobile Wardens receive training to understand the needs of the people they visit and are able to develop skills such as First Aid and fire safety, adult safeguarding and dementia awareness.
Gillian has been a Mobile Warden for 10 years and regularly looks after more than 20 clients, including one couple who explain: “Gillian’s visits on Thursdays are the highlight of our week. She brings fish and chips – which we wouldn’t have without her help as I am unable to leave the house. It makes such a difference. Gillian is worth her weight in gold.”
New or existing Mobile Warden groups can apply to the scheme. Bids will be accepted until Friday 24 January 2020.
Find more information or apply by visiting https://www.scambs.gov.uk/mobile-wardens