Groceries, telehealth and pharmaceuticals: how older Australians can get help at home

Additional funding for My Aged Care and telehealth, a partnership with Australia Post for pharmaceutical delivery services, and private enterprise services such as Woolworths and Coles’ priority delivery for seniors are rapidly mobilising to help, as are charitable organisations such as the Red Cross and Meals on Wheels. It is not possible to apply over the phone for priority delivery services from Woolworths or Coles, and you may experience long waiting times if you require technical assistance with their websites. Prof Peter Collignon, an infectious diseases physician and microbiologist at Canberra hospital, says: “Basically we don’t know where the virus could be, and it survives on surfaces. But he says: “There’s no evidence this is transmitted by food.” Brett Mitchell, a Professor of Nursing at the University of Newcastle, recommends you wash your hands before and after unpacking groceries, as well as when you are preparing food, and after disposing of unnecessary packaging from shopping. He says that “cooking food using usual processes will be enough to kill viruses.” “Fresh fruit and vegetables, can be eaten raw, after thorough rinsing in running water” he continues, no is soap needed. The health department advises anyone wishing to use the service should speak directly to their pharmacist for information about delivery times and the availability of other goods. During a telehealth consultation, a doctor will be able to write prescriptions, which can either be sent directly to your pharmacy via mail, fax or email, or sent to you. We are hearing stories of a lot of people whose neighbouris going and doing the shopping for them.” He says while no one was fully prepared for a pandemic on the scale of Covid-19, “We do have that network of services out there.”

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