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Health Cutback Concern For Elderly
Stuff.co.nz (NZPA)
May 23, 2010
New Zealand
Vulnerable elderly people may take risks to live alone in their own homes following cutbacks by district health boards, says an international care provider.
The recent cutbacks in home support services for the elderly were just the start of a trend that was growing internationally, says Neil Farnworth, Home Instead Senior Care NZ general manager.
"As an international organisation we're seeing this trend in many developed countries," Mr Farnworth said.
"With double-digit growth in New Zealand's elderly population over the next decade, the government just can't keep pace with demand and is passing on the responsibility to the community and families."
The danger was that elderly people and their families may end up hiring carers who are either untrained or unscrupulous, and expose themselves to risk, he said.
Alternatively, elderly people who did not want to be a bother would try to carry on without the help they needed, and as a result may have accidents or not be able to care for themselves properly.
Mr Farnworth advised elderly people and their families to talk to Age Concern or their district health nurses about their options for private home support services.
"They should ensure the provider conducts police checks on carers and ensures they are properly trained and supported. That way they will have peace of mind that they are dealing with a professional provider," he said.
Home Instead Senior Care is a provider of non-medical home help and services for older people.
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