Christmas care for the vulnerable

OLDHAM Council’s Social Care team are ensuring vulnerable residents are safe and prepared for the holiday period.


Staff have spent the week before Christmas contacting almost 4,000 local residents in a huge co-ordinated ‘ring-round’ exercise.

Checks are being made that heating is working and that each has food and any medicines they need to get them through this time.

Most people who were contacted told staff they had relatives or friends who would be dropping in to check on their wellbeing and help with essential tasks.

In some cases, however, residents had nobody to help and the social care team quickly arranged for staff to pop in and help out with chores like shopping.

Councillor Phil Harrison, cabinet member for adults and health, said: “Almost half of the over-60s in this country now live by themselves and that raises obvious concern about vulnerable residents at this time of year.

“This is a very important exercise that we carry out annually and our staff got a typically warm and appreciative reaction from the residents.

“As an example, one lady had a faulty smoke detector and was unable to change the battery, so we contacted the fire service who are now going to visit her and check it.

Another gentleman had been given the wrong medication and we were able to liaise with his GP and relatives to sort the problem out.

“Bodies like Oldham Council, Age Concern and NHS Oldham do as much as they can at this time but I would urge other residents to also help out by doing ‘your bit’.

Please remember that some of your neighbours — especially the elderly — can be particularly vulnerable at this time.

“Just knocking on a neighbour’s door to check they are okay, or nipping round for a brew with them can make the world of difference.”