The Community Call

1. Introduction
2. Local Authority Helpline Numbers and Email Addresses
3. Those aged over 70 and the medically vulnerable
4. Visiting long-term residential care facilities (nursing and care homes)

5. When to wear face coverings
6. Advice for people giving support
7. Advice for people who need support

Introduction

As part of the government response to the COVID-19 crisis, your local authority (council) has established a COVID-19 Community Call Forum. Your local forum works with State agencies and community and voluntary groups to provide supports or services to any vulnerable person who needs them.

Your forum brings together different organisations to provide important services like:

collection and delivery of essential items like food, ‘meals-on-wheels’, household items, fuel or medicine (in line with guidance)
support if you are experiencing social isolation or are medically vulnerable

Local Authority Helpline Numbers and Email Addresses

If you need help, if you know someone who needs help, or if you would like to offer help, please use the numbers or email for your local authority (council).

Those aged over 70 and the medically vulnerable

Those aged over 70 years and over and others at increased risk of severe illness should exercise judgement regarding the extent to which they engage with others and in activities outside home.

See guidance for people at increased risk of severe illness.

Guidance for other people at increased risk of severe illness

Visiting long-term residential care facilities (nursing and care homes)

It’s important for residents in a nursing home or residential care facility to have regular visits from the people who are most important to them.

General guidance is available, but each facility will advise of any restrictions in their individual home.

When to wear face coverings

The Department of Health provides information on mask wearing and other preventative measures.

Advice for people giving support

Making contact

contact the person to confirm your visit
phone the person when you arrive outside their home
complete hand hygiene before leaving your vehicle
ring doorbell or knock loudly and step back 2 metres
inform the person who you are, the reason for the visit and show your ID

Once you arrive

ask the person to move to another room
place items inside the front door
if essential to enter the home follow the guidelines about handwashing and physical distance

As you leave

confirm time and date of next visit
reassure the person that contact and deliveries will be maintained while they remain at home
complete hand hygiene prior to returning to vehicle
telephone or email confirmation of visit and wellbeing of person

If the person is unwell

if the person reports feeling unwell ask if the person has contacted their GP
if the person has not contacted the GP, obtain the name and number of the GP and do so on their behalf
if the GP can’t be contacted, phone the emergency services

If the person is frail and needs help with delivery

identify location of kitchen and bring in goods/fuel
unload goods ensuring they are accessible for the person
leave the residence and step back 2 metres
reassure the person that contact and deliveries will be maintained while they remain at home

If there is no response

if there is no reply, ring the contact telephone number
if there is no answer, contact the Local Authority Helpline for any additional contact numbers
after numerous attempts to contact the person without success, phone the emergency services for further assistance
remain at the residence until the emergency services attend
contact the Local Authority with outcome and update on the person

Advice for people who need support

DO

do remember that help and advice is only a phone-call away
do make yourself aware of contact numbers for vital services and keep these numbers handy
do keep in touch with neighbours
do ask to see identification if a stranger calls to the door. If in doubt, call the organisation they claim to represent for verification
do remember to practise physical distancing, keeping a space of 2 metres between you and other people
do follow guidelines around hand washing, sneezing and coughing into your arm or a tissue

DON’T

don’t answer the door to someone you don’t know unless you feel comfortable doing so
don’t shake hands with anyone that might come to the door
don’t let someone into your home unless you know them or it is absolutely necessary
don’t give ANY personal details including your bank details or your credit/debit card to anyone you don’t trust – whether in person or over the phone
don’t interact with other vulnerable members of your community if you have any symptoms of illness
don’t be alarmed by false information on social media – rely to HSE advice