On a Waitlist for Volunteer Phone Visiting? What to Do in the Meantime

Why volunteer programs are limited

Programs such as Red Cross Telecross and Friends for Good rely on trained volunteers. Good programs take care to match each caller with the right person, and that takes time. In some areas there are simply more people asking for calls than volunteers available. Calls are also usually on set days, because volunteers have their own lives and commitments.

None of that is a failing. It just means that for many older people, a volunteer call is one part of the week rather than a daily routine.

What to do while you wait

1. Stay on the list and ask about timing. Ask the program roughly how long matching tends to take and whether another program nearby has more capacity. Applying to more than one is usually fine.
2. Call My Aged Care. On 1800 200 422 you can ask for an assessment for help at home. Social support is one of the areas that funded services can cover, and an assessment may open other options too.
3. Check with the local council. Many councils run or know about community transport, social groups and visiting programs. Meals on Wheels also brings a regular friendly face to the door in many areas.
4. Build a family and friends roster. Even three people each taking two days a week covers most of the week. A shared note or group chat helps everyone see who called and how the person sounded.
5. Add a daily check-in call. A scheduled call fills the days nobody else is ringing and gives the family a record of how each day went.

How KindlyCall fits alongside volunteer calls

KindlyCall rings at the same time every day on the person’s existing landline or mobile. A friendly AI caller asks how they are going, chats about their day and remembers earlier conversations, such as the grandchildren or the garden. After each call, the family sees a short summary in the dashboard, including whether the call was answered.

A common pattern families use: the volunteer calls on Tuesday and Friday for a longer chat, family ring on the weekend, and the daily check-in call covers every morning. The person has a voice to talk to each day, and the family can see the week at a glance instead of wondering about the gaps.

Once a volunteer match comes through, you can keep the daily call, move it to a different time, or stop it. There is no lock-in.

Honest limits

A daily call from an AI caller is not the same as a human friendship, and it does not try to be. Some people prefer to wait for a volunteer, and that is their call to make. KindlyCall is also not an emergency service or medical alarm. It does not detect falls or emergencies, and a missed call appears in the family’s call summary rather than as an instant alert. Keep a personal alarm if one is needed, and call 000 in an emergency. If someone is feeling very low, Lifeline is on 13 11 14.