Facility patients ‘better behaved’
Two months ago, Christchurch woman Kerry-Anne King was dealing with residents from a nearby mental health facility trespassing and stealing from her property.
Some Hoon Hay House residents would frequent a nearby shopping centre and became abusive to shoppers. One neighbour saw a patient urinating outside shops but was told staff ‘‘can’t leave the property’’ when he called the facility.
But neighbours now engaged in conversation and residents no longer seemed heavily medicated, were more considerate and ‘‘actually quite friendly’’, King said.
‘‘We’ve had a few minor incidences, like one of their patients was found on our property, but we called Hoon Hay village and they came down straight away.’’
In October, the Tankerville Rd resident was among several in her community who felt intimidated by their neighbours’ behaviour and a perceived lack of action by staff members.
Hoon Hay House, owned by Golden Healthcare Group (GHG), aims to help people experiencing mental health issues to integrate back into the community. It also provides physical disability and intellectual care for up to 40 residents in total.
Since October, residents had met with Wigram MP Megan Woods, who then met with staff at the facility to discuss residents’ concerns.
King said she and a group of neighbours later met with staff to discuss issues like funding for mental health patients and the need for some Hoon Hay House residents’ care requirements to be reassessed.
GHG general manager David Sidaway could not discuss patient information, but said staff had ‘‘made positive changes’’ since meeting with Woods.
‘‘We’re trying to keep a closer watch on what they’re doing, even though they’re quite entitled to go in and out as they like,’’ he said.
‘‘They’re not under lock and key . . . that’s their home so they can just come and go from their home as they wish to do so.’’
GHG owns and operates eight healthcare facilities and retirement homes across Christchurch, including Hoon Hay House. Sidaway said the work with neighbours would ‘‘be ongoing’’.
‘‘They’ve all got my phone number . . . so if the residents in the area have any issues they can definitely ring me and we’d rather jump on it immediately than it be a festering sore for the families in the area.’’
King said one of the patients, who often sat outside the retail complex and had abused shoppers, was ‘‘never’’ there anymore.
She said she had seen her while at home, where she gave her a glass of water and the pair chatted while the patient waited for someone, which would not have happened before.
‘‘She didn’t really seem like she was heavily medicated or anything, which was really good,’’ King said.
‘‘I’m hoping [Hoon Hay House staff] keep up with whatever they’re doing and it stays the way it is because they’re good changes, it’s different.’’
"We're trying to keep a closer watch on what they're doing ...'' Golden Healthcare Group general manager David Sidaway