Freisenbruch-Meyer Group (FMG) has launched a community service programme for their elderly home insurance clients.

A different senior will be chosen as part of the company's 'Out of Office' scheme each year.

Seniors selected will have their homes cleaned and refurbished over the course of a day by FMG staff.

This year's recipient was 62-year-old Elfreda Lines, who suffers from arthritis and lives alone on North Shore.

After evaluating the premises, a team of staff got to work on the house and grounds.

Tasks included landscaping and gardening, clearing out the basement, cleaning a downstairs apartment, installing security lights and a smoke detector, and repainting the home with 15 gallons donated by Pembroke Paint Company.

The scheme was started by customer service representative Khomeini Taalib-Din.

"We were introduced to Ms Lines while conducting another company project and after visiting her, the Out of Office project idea was born.

"She is a very kind-hearted, sweet-spirited senior who was clearly in need of home maintenance assistance. We wanted to help, and I felt this would be the perfect opportunity to launch the community service project, which will become an annual project."

Ms Lines' property has been insured by the company since 1984. Thanking the company, she said: "I am honoured to have been chosen to launch this project because it's truly been difficult adapting to this handicapped lifestyle. I've always been very active with my dog raising, swimming and riding my horse, but now I can barely walk.

"People don't realise how challenging it is to cope with this disease until you have to do something as simple as install a mailbox and just putting in the screws hurts. I feel a magnitude of relief and cannot thank the FMG staff enough."

FMG general manager William Madeiros added that too many seniors weren't able to maintain their homes and had no family members to assist them.

He said: "Watching Ms Lines interact with the staff made a difference in her day, and it warms my heart to know that we have been able to make it a little easier for her."