Moruya-based Red Cross South Coast zone representative Pam Hamory has explained how Red Cross service Telecross can avoid such incidents happening.

“People are referred by their local GP to Telecross and they are placed on a list for a daily phone call,” she said.

“If the person does not answer the first call, then another is made 10 minutes later. If this call is not answered then a person nominated by the client is alerted Red Cross representative in charge of Telecross in the area, and goes straight to the house. This way the client knows that if something goes wrong then someone will be on their way.”

Ms Hamory recalled a harrowing experience with a phone call she received.

“A client rang and just said ‘help me, help me’,” she said.

“I said get off the phone so I can call triple 0. He was taken to hospital where he eventually died with his family and friends by his side, but because they had someone to call, he did not die alone.”

Red Cross’s Telechat service is another safeguard against isolation of vulnerable members of the community.

“Telechat is a social inclusion service which allows clients to talk to people,” Red Cross administrator Tim Grover said.

“I lot of our clients, if we don’t call them, then they won’t talk to anyone. We can also arrange for a volunteers to visit the house for a chat.”