FREE COUNSELLING SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE!

There are many issues our senior community face as they age; from health issues, grief and loss, depression, whanau changes and transitions, to loss of wellbeing, goals and making their own decisions. Among the older generations, mental health is still something that isn’t talked about enough, and there’s a general assumption that aging adults don’t have the same stresses of life as the younger adult generations, but it’s simply that they have different kinds of stresses. Age Concern Horowhenua identified some time ago, that the available counselling services were not being utilised by our older community in the Horowhenua. When we looked at local statistics, we were shocked that less than FIVE 65+ year olds had accessed counselling services in the past two years! When we spoke to some local seniors, it was identified that cost was a major factor in their ability to access counselling services and the other being the stigma that sits with the older generation about counselling. We decided something needed to change, to make counselling accessible, affordable and enable positive change to the lives of our older community.

Age Concern Horowhenua is proud to bring the Horowhenua Senior Community FREE and ACCESSIBLE counselling services!

We have received funding to run a Counselling Pilot Program, which will be available to all seniors in the Horowhenua over the next 12 months. This programme will look at the sustainability and feasibility of offering these services long-term in the Horowhenua region.

We are thrilled to be working alongside the amazing team at Living Well Counselling Centre, who are extremely professional and experienced in their field and will be providing the counselling services for this programme.

Age Concern Horowhenua believes that whatever we face in life shouldn’t be faced alone. By encouraging our senior community to talk about things that they are struggling with; such as the loss of friends and family, health challenges, coping with the demands of daily life and relationship conflicts in a safe and confidential environment, we believe this programme will arm them with coping strategies, and significantly improve their overall wellbeing and happiness.

If you would like to find out more information about this programme, please contact the team at Age Concern Horowhenua who can answer any of your questions.