Students in Social Work become phone pals in times of COVID-19

Students at the University of Iceland's Faculty of Social Work have recently volunteered for Reykjavík's Welfare Services where they participate in the project Let's talk (Spjöllum saman); aimed at breaking the isolations of the elderly in these difficult times due to the COVID-19-epidemic.

Reykjavík's Welfare Services and the University of Iceland's Faculty of Social Work collaborate on teaching and research in the field of welfare, and have a long tradition of student vocational training at Reykjavík municipality.

Steinunn Hrafnsdóttir, professor and Vice-chair of the Faculty of Social Work had the thought that her students could become volunteers for sensitive groups in times of COVID-19. Her idea and proposition was well received by Regína Ástvaldsdóttir, head of Reykjavík's Welfare Services, who saw an excellent opportunity for the students to try out as phone pals with the elderly in Reykjavík. The organisers, the project manager of 'phone pals' in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Work, advertised among students in the faculty and there are currently 35 students working as volunteers. 

One of them is Ásdís Stella Löve Þorkelsdóttir who is completing her BA degree in the field. "I saw the advertisement and knew of the excellent collaboration between the City of Reykjavík and the Faculty of Social Work and wanted to contribute in these weird times," says Ásdís when asked why she decided to take part in the project. In addition to the students there are employees from the City of Reykjavík and volunteers from the elderly taking part in the project.

They call everyone who is over 85, living alone and has received services from the City of Reykjavík. The phone call includes a status check of their condition and health as well as small talk. The phone call does not replace domestic service, home nursing or other services provided by the City of Reykjavík; it is an addition.

Also rewarding for students 

Ásdís has participated in the project for three weeks now. "I have experienced much loneliness during these calls and people are anxious for this predicament to be over. Their routine and extracurricular activities have been suspended, and on top of that their families cannot visit. But at the same time I experience much gratitude for the phone calls, the distraction from constant news and discussion about the COVID-19 epidemic. We have casual conversations and I get to hear funny anecdotes from their past so this is as rewarding for us as it is for them," adds Ásdís.

Students of social work learn about trauma and grief and the resources in the welfare system and this has prepared Ásdís well for this project. "I learned a lot in my course on psychological first aid on how to talk to sensitive groups but it is most certainly a trauma and difficult for the soul to not be able to receive visitors," says Ásdís.

It is estimated that the social work students will be part of the project for six weeks, and those who wish can ask for credits in the course on psychological first aid next semester. However, Ásdís says it is possible that the project will be prolonged if the assembly ban and social distancing will continue in Iceland.

Asked what she takes from the project Ásdís says the opportunity to get to know a diverse group and their situation is valuable. "You get a deeper insight into the group of seniors and their everyday life and that is, in my opinion, very important."

Ásdís will graduate from her BA studies this spring and when asked about the future she says: "I have applied for MA studies in Social Work with professional recognition this autumn and I hope I get in."