FOCUS AREA: Health
ARO Ā TAKE: Hauora
The importance older people place on health cannot be over-emphasised.
Access to health services is vital. The ideal is a high level of accessibility with minimum fuss and difficulty.
Health Advocacy
Support to assist with navigating the health care system. Actions and initiatives being considered:
- Seamless, joined up care
- Follow up with clients after checkups
- Easy to access appointments
- Readily available information about where to go, how to access services
Remote Delivery
Enabling access to quality health services despite distance from main centres.
- Retention of the local hospital is essential
- Attracting qualified people to the area
- Adequate special services eg dementia, mental health
- Majority of services accessed locally
- Greater use of telemedicine and remote servicing
Care Delivery Innovation
Doing things differently to improve the quality, availability and accessibility of health care.
- Improved integration of services and connectedness between them
- Culturally appropriate – for iwi and migrants
Home Support and Home Based Technology
Providing in home support which boost independence and confidence, and ensure that older people do not become isolated from health and wellness services by remaining in their own home.
- In home medical support
- Electronic monitoring connected to primary providers
- Community nursing
St Johns Medical Alarm – The only alarm monitored directly by St John. Once alarm is pushed, they will call you back and talk to you through the alarm speaker to check if you are ok. If there is no answer, they will organise for the most appropriate help.
Call 0800 50 23 23 23 for more alarm information
Health and Wellness Accessibility
Health and Wellness Accessibility
Increasing access and minimising barriers to health and wellness services.
- Affordability, barriers are minimised
– both health and wellness (preventative) - Transport readily available
- Home visits where appropriate
– Te Kakano nurses are happy to see any one for any health advice, education or support. They will work with other health providers (e.g. GPs) to enable the best care for you. This service is free.
Services include: Cervical smears, weight monitoring, blood sugar and blood pressure checks; heart, diabetes and breathing checks to identify your risk of illness; access to a podiatrist, access to a dietician, helping you develop a health plan to meet your goals and helping you know who and what is available to meet your health needs.
–Age Concern New Zealand support older New Zealanders to live a great later life, to make the choices that best suit them and to have access to the services and help they need. They stand up for the rights of older people and against ageism and discrimination.
Age Concern Southland offer Gore district residents:
- Elder abuse and Neglect Prevention Services
- Accredited Visitor Service
– St John Health Shuttle is a community service that transports people to essential medical and health-related appointments (mostly eyes, dental, hospital and Physiotherapy), and then brings them home again. Travels to Mataura, Balclutha, Invercargill and Dunedin
A donation is suggested per trip:
$20 to Invercargill
$40 to Dunedin
Phone 03 208 6617, if no answer please leave a message Or 027 226 2298
HAVE YOUR SAY
We would love to hear from you! What do you think needs to be done to make Gore District the place you would want to stay in for your older years?