1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,240 Speaker 1: But as we spoke about just a short time ago 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: with the Chief Minister and also yesterday when we spoke 3 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: to the Council of the Aging here in the Northern Territory, 4 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:11,000 Speaker 1: many seniors are living in fear and they're feeling unsafe 5 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: in their own homes and don't want to go out, 6 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: is what she told us in Alice Springs. Now it's 7 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: not an isolated issue. Palmerston Counselor Sarah Henderson weighing in 8 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: on those concerns, and she has heard from residents. Now 9 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: she joins me on the line right now, Good morning 10 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: to you, Sarah. 11 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 2: Good morning, Katie. 12 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: Sarah. What are you hearing from elderly residents in Palmerston 13 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: right now? 14 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 2: Oh, it's terrible, Katie. So many of our singers have 15 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 2: just worked hard all their lives and paid taxes in 16 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 2: the territory and now they are just terrified to go 17 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 2: out of their house. They they've retired here because the 18 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 2: territory was their home, and a lot of their children 19 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 2: have moved on in the States for careers and things. 20 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 2: So they're by themselves, apart from friends that we've had around, 21 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 2: but they won't go shopping. There's quite a few of 22 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 2: them that I take shopping and if I didn't, they 23 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 2: just wouldn't go because they can't use the internet to 24 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 2: work out how to order it online or or anything 25 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 2: like that. They won't catch public transport because it is 26 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 2: so terrifying some of the horrific things have told me 27 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 2: about public transport and sitting around waiting for the buses. 28 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 2: You just you get attacked, You get nagged for money 29 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 2: and everything, and it's really hard when you're not as 30 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:33,360 Speaker 2: strong as you used to be that you really feel 31 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 2: fearful for yourself. So they won't even go for a 32 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 2: walk anymore. So they're not exercising because they're scared of 33 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 2: being attacked. They just have become prisoners in their own home. 34 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: It's actually heartbreaking to hear, you know, and you think 35 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: to yourself that you've got seen is that don't feel 36 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: safe going out and don't feel as though they're able 37 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: to do those activities that they should one hundred percent 38 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: be able to do. It makes me feel really sad, Sarah, 39 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: what you know, what type of activities are they telling 40 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: you that they're steering clear. 41 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 2: Off most things anywhere where there's a lot of people 42 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 2: anywhere where there's not a lot of people. I mean, 43 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 2: I can give you an example. I went shopping earlier 44 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 2: this year and I parked underground because it was a 45 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 2: hot day, and I had a fellow to try to 46 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 2: take the handbag off my shoulder. Now, I'm strong enough 47 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 2: that I use my knee in an appropriate place and 48 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:31,959 Speaker 2: I was able to lock the car and go away. 49 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 2: But others aren't able to do that. I mean, even 50 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:39,359 Speaker 2: for me, who I'm stronger than most park outside. Now. 51 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 2: I never use an underground parking area because it's unsafe. 52 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 2: And so that's what a lot of these things are saying. 53 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:48,679 Speaker 2: They don't do that. They even if they're driving, they're 54 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: scared about where they're going to park and how they're 55 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 2: going to get back to their car, and sitting around 56 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 2: waiting for a bus at a bus stop is horrific. 57 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 2: Most of them just stay away from them completely because 58 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,799 Speaker 2: they're just too dangerous for them. You've got all these 59 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 2: sorts of things happening, and they're just becoming so disconnected. 60 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: That's I mean, that's the hardest part, and that's the 61 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: saddest partner. As you'd said just a little while ago, 62 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: you've got a situation where with some of these sceniors. 63 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:18,919 Speaker 1: Their families have moved into state or their kids are 64 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: into state for different job opportunities, and so they don't 65 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: even have someone who's able to, you know, to take 66 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: them to do that shopping and to do various activities 67 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: with them. But Sarah, you had said that you do 68 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: take a group of sceeniors, or you certainly take some 69 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: sceniors out in the Palmerston area out to do their 70 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: shopping and to do some of those activities. 71 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, yeah, I'll take anybody to ask, But there 72 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 2: is a lot of scene about them that are just 73 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 2: sitting at home by themselves. I'm really worried about these people, 74 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 2: and I try and get around to them and sort 75 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 2: of say I'll take you shopping because they won't go, 76 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 2: or you know, or I'll stay here and drop you 77 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 2: at the shops and I'll stay here in mind your 78 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 2: house because they're worried that their house going to get 79 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 2: broken into. And there's a lot more that need this help, 80 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 2: but they won't ask for it because they're too proud. 81 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: I look, I know exactly what you mean, you know, 82 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: and you would feel too proud to actually ask for 83 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: that help. Sarah, how do you think that this is 84 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,919 Speaker 1: impacting our seniors that are in the Palmerston area. 85 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 2: I'm really concerned, Katty. There are so many of them. 86 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 2: They have now left the territory because they just can't 87 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 2: live here any longer, which is sad. We're losing all 88 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 2: our scenor territories that have worked so hard for the territory. 89 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 2: It's unfair. They wanted this to be their home, but 90 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 2: they just feel that they're just so unsafe and so depressed. 91 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 2: There's so many of them that are really depressed. You know. 92 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 2: One lady said, if I can't go for a walk 93 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 2: in the afternoon, I don't want to live here anymore. 94 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: Well, what a terribly sad situation. I wonder if there's 95 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: a way that, you know, we can kind of connect 96 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: some of our seniors to you know, to other territorians 97 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: who might be able to help them with some of 98 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: those jobs, or who might be able to go for 99 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:08,720 Speaker 1: a walk with them occasionally or something. 100 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,119 Speaker 2: This is what I'd like to start, is some sort 101 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 2: of I don't know, connective scene that we could start 102 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 2: where they can call and say we need people to 103 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 2: walk with them or take them shopping or something like that. 104 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 2: I mean, we've got right down here, like I'm a 105 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 2: gym at Parmiston next to Youth Center. Now youth which 106 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 2: is wonderful, get lots of money for grants and things, 107 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 2: which is fabulous, that's really good, But the scene is 108 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 2: are getting nothing now. There was a huge group of 109 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 2: seniors that used to exercise down here three days a week, 110 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 2: but of course with the business as the way they 111 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 2: are and across of living, they've had to put their 112 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 2: prices up. This was the only place that sceners could 113 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 2: afford to exercise. Now most of them have had to 114 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 2: drop off because they're charging for an instant company up 115 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 2: a coffee and the prices have gone up so much 116 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 2: that they can't even exercise, so they're not getting the 117 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 2: morning tea afterwards. They're not being connected with other people, 118 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 2: making friends so that they've got a support system, so 119 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:16,160 Speaker 2: that they have other people that could go shopping with 120 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 2: them or go out with them. They're not getting any 121 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 2: of this because of the price. Right. If only, perhaps 122 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 2: there could be also a grant for people to do things, 123 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 2: you know, to have a seenors project, you know, that 124 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 2: would help too, as well as having a program to. 125 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: Keep people well. Sarah, I'd be really interested to hear, 126 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: you know, if there is a bit of progress on 127 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: that or if there's something that we can do, you know, 128 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 1: to try to help you if it is something that's 129 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,719 Speaker 1: able to get off the ground, to promote it, to 130 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: try and get some people to you know, to connect 131 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,919 Speaker 1: up with seeing is to help each other and certainly 132 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 1: help them out, you know, if they're in a situation 133 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: where they're not able to do their shopping and that 134 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: type of thing. Because I think it is so important 135 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:00,640 Speaker 1: that we not only respect that we but we also 136 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 1: look after our scene is you know, they've worked their 137 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:07,159 Speaker 1: whole lives, they've paid their taxes their whole lives. They 138 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: contribute so much to the Northern Territory and in so 139 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 1: many cases for a lot of us, you know, if 140 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: we didn't have our parents living here, we wouldn't actually 141 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: be able to you know, to raise our children and 142 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: still work and that kind of thing. 143 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 2: That's right, there's so many of them. A lot of 144 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: the scene is still look after children on school holidays. 145 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 2: But I mean, if it's going to be life this, 146 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 2: they're not going to stay. There's not going to be 147 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 2: that help for the families anymore. And the support that 148 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 2: they also. 149 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: Need now Sarah, I know some people will be asking 150 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: is there anything that the Palmerston Council could be doing. 151 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: I know you are obviously a counselor. Is there anything 152 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: that you guys could be doing to sort of assist 153 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: in this area. 154 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 2: I'm working on it at the moment. Hope it'll have 155 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 2: to be taken on notice well. 156 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: Please do keep us in the loop as any progress 157 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: is made, because I reckon that it's a really good 158 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 1: idea what you've seen spoken about there if there is 159 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: a way that we can connect our seniors to other 160 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 1: people around the territory to help them out, and it 161 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: is atrocious that we're in a situation where seniors aren't 162 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: feeling safe to be able to go out and do things. 163 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: Something has got to change. 164 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Cozy. I really appreciate your support. 165 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, thank you. Thanks so much for making us aware 166 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: of it as well, Sarah, we very much appreciate it. 167 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: Thank you, Thank you.