Change to home support services

Elderly people across Nelson Marlborough will be supported to remain independent in their homes through two new homebased support contracts.

Access Community Health and Nurse Maude have been awarded five year contracts by Nelson Marlborough Health to provide homebased support services in the region, beginning on September 26.

The services are currently provided by Access Community Health, Healthcare New Zealand, Presbyterian Support, Nelson Nursing Services and Florence Nightingale Agency.

Nelson Marlborough Health general manager strategy primary and community Cathy O’Malley said that the new providers proved their experience, innovation and capability to deliver a new model of restorative care.

‘‘Restorative care puts people at the centre of their care, where sup- port services are designed to help people achieve their goals of independence in their own home,’’ O’Malley said.

‘‘Decisions made now must be robust enough and flexible enough to meet the challenges coming with our ageing population.’’

Currently, those over 65 account for 15 per cent of the population but that was due to increase to 22 per cent by 2033.

O’Malley said people were supported to stay in their own home for as long as it was safe for them to do so, which was what most people and their families wanted.

‘‘This is where the expertise of nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists comes in under the restorative model.’’

Services will continue to be delivered by the current providers until September 25. Current recipients of home-based services were informed about the new model in June, and would receive further information from providers this month.