“TIMEBANK surgeries” are being set up at two medical centres in Warrington – to give a helping hand to older patients in need of support.
Warrington Voluntary Action is working with Latchford Medical Centre and Birchwood Medical Centre to establish the initiative.
Older patients are being told about the benefits of timebanking and encouraged to become members.
Timebanking enables an older person to procure “favours” from other local members – be this help around the home or garden, someone to visit and offer companionship and friendship, or even just having someone there to run an errand or two.
Timebank development officer Philip Blocksidge said: “Simple gestures of neighbourly support like these can sometimes have the biggest impact on helping to improve the quality of life of local older people.
“No cash ever changes hands, instead members pay for the favour they receive using the currency of the timebank – ‘time credits’. Members can earn credits for each hour they perform a favour for someone else.”
The timebank surgeries at the two medical centres are quiet spaces away from the waiting room where older patients can have a chat about the benefits of timebank membership.
Anyone interested in helping to champion timebanking at Latchford or Birchwood is asked to contact Mr Blocksidge on 01925 246882 or emailing [email protected]
Full training is provided.
Timebanks offer help for elderly
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