“Help at Hand”, an ADL Helpline for members, is to be trialed between Monday 5 March and Friday 29 June.  It will be staffed by experienced ADL Instructors three times a week:

• Monday: 9.00am – 12 noon
• Wednesday: 9.00am – 12 noon
• Thursday: 1.00pm – 4.00pm

The number to call is our usual toll free number 0800 24 33 33, and option 1 will take the member to general inquiries who will transfer the caller to the ADL instructor rostered on. If a call is made outside these times, the 0800 team will record contact details and make a time for the member to be called back during the rostered time.

Members may call for all sorts of daily living problems related to sight loss. Obviously, some may not be able to be resolved by phone, and if this is the case a referral for a local ADL Instructor to follow-up will be made.

In addition to the “Help at Hand” phone line an Appliance Marking kit has been developed for supply to new members. This includes five “Bump-ons” (small adhesive-backed raised dots) and some simple instructions to enable the member and/or their family or support people to affix the dots to the appliances of their choice (e.g. stove, washing machine, microwave, TV remote). Queries related to these, can also be obtained by calling ‘Help at Hand’, the ADL Helpline. Additional “Bump-ons” are available through Equipment Services.

Please pass this information on to members and encourage them to use “Help at Hand”. Although both of the above are only a trial, they are tools to encourage self-help and independence as well as having the potential to reduce waiting times.

Please do not hesitate to contact Adrienne Henderson, Project Manager Service Delivery Pilot, RNZFB if you have any queries. Adrienne's contact details are: 03 466 4240 or 0275 777 167.