Neighbourhood Help Marketplace: Find support and do a good deed

Neighbourly help can make everyday life easier for older people whilst also helping them to make new friends. At the next "Neighbourhood Support Marketplace" on Tuesday 22 September at 4 pm, older people with a care level and interested neighbourhood helpers will have the chance to speak directly with one another. The event will take place at the Feldmark-West community centre.

The marketplace is very straightforward: anyone looking for support in their daily life can meet people who are keen to get involved. Conversely, those interested in giving their time to others and getting involved in their neighbourhood have the opportunity to make suitable connections.

"Many valuable connections have been made at previous events. As a result, some older people have found support that would probably not have been possible without the Neighbourhood Help Marketplace", reports divisional manager Christian Tewiele. "The positive feedback from older people, their relatives and neighbourhood helpers shows us that we are taking exactly the right approach with this initiative. That is why the Neighbourhood Help Marketplace will now take place more regularly", he explains.

Small acts of help with a big impact

The possibilities for neighbourhood support are wide-ranging. Whether it's an escort to the doctor's, a walk together, help with shopping or support with small everyday tasks - it is often precisely these regular little acts of help that can make a big difference to older people.

If a care level has been assessed, this support can be funded through the respite allowance provided by the care insurance fund. This means there are no additional costs for the elderly. Neighbourhood helpers can receive a tax-free expense allowance of up to 131 euros per month for their work.

Interaction between helpers and those in need of support

The City of Bocholt's Senior Citizens' Office warmly invites senior citizens with a care level, as well as interested neighbourhood helpers, to the Marktplatz. To help with planning, please register in advance with the City of Bocholt's Senior Citizens' Office by telephone on 02871 953 22 34 or by email at seniorenbuero(at)bocholt(dot)de.

""Neighbourhood support requires, above all, time, reliability and a enjoyment of interacting with other people,"" says Tewiele. ""Anyone who can imagine supporting an older person in their daily life is just as welcome as older people who would appreciate a little support or company.""

Further information can also be found on the City of Bocholt's website at bocholt.de/marktplatz-nachbarschaftshilfe