Red Cross to stop supporting contact circles for the elderly

The Red Cross will end its support for 75 so-called contact circles for the elderly as of January 1, the aid organization confirmed following reports by NH Nieuws.

Elderly people who take part in a contact circle call each other every day to check if everything is alright. The circle begins with a Red Cross volunteer, and then, following a set order, all participants call one another. If someone does not answer or needs help, the Red Cross steps in. The number of elderly people in a circle ranges from just a few to around 15.

“As an emergency relief organization, we have taken on many new tasks in recent years,” the Red Cross explained. “For example, providing food aid to people who do not have enough money left each month.”

The Red Cross believes the contact circles are a better fit for a social welfare organization. The intention is for such an organization to take them over. The Red Cross said it is “doing everything possible” to ensure the circles continue beyond January 1, 2026.

Participation in a contact circle is free, apart from the phone costs for the participant. There are no further obligations, so people are not tied to additional conditions.

Participants will be informed of the change this week, either by phone or by letter.