Check on your neighbours this festive season

For most, Christmas and New Year is a time for joy and celebration but for some it can be a lonely and isolating period. In 2020 with our national borders closed and some people continuing to self-isolate due to their vulnerability, isolation is affecting more people than ever before.

We’re encouraging everyone in our community to safely connect with elderly relatives, friends and neighbours this Christmas, make sure they’re okay and help beat social isolation.

If you’re not sure how to help or reach out, try these ideas:

Leave a note in your neighbour’s letterbox wishing them a happy Christmas and New Year, ask if they need anything, and pass on your contact details so they can get in touch. Be particularly mindful of those who may still be self-isolating and if you can, offer to pick up groceries or medicine and leave it at their door.Invite them over for a socially distanced cuppa. Small neighbourly acts like sharing a cup of tea can make an enormous difference to people’s wellbeing.Offer a lift to the shops – it’s tough to do a large grocery shop on your own so an offer to help or pick up their grocery shop can be greatly appreciated.  Have a phone call with your older relatives if you can’t visit them– you might be the only person they hear from today.Make a hamper with local produce and drop it at their door.If you have children, encourage them to create artwork to share with your neighbours or see if your child and neighbour might like to become pen pals.Take some time to write cards to your relatives, send photos too!

Many clubs and activities for seniors have returned so if you have a loved one or neighbour looking for things to do, get them to check out our Community Centres Activity Brochure. You can also pick up a print copy in our Customer Service Centres and Community Centres.

There are amazing support services on the Northern Beaches who don’t rest over the Christmas period. These services offer groceries, hot meals and frozen meals to those who need a helping hand. If you know someone who could be helped by one of these services, please see a list with what they offer and their contact details.

We also have services to support with our Home Library Service delivering books, audiobooks, DVDs, magazines and more. Meals on Wheels delivers healthy and nutritious meals in the Manly area and our volunteers always stop in for a chat to check in on our clients.

For up-to-date information about COVID-19, visit NSW Health's website.