Qtown elder issues highlighted

Concerns about elderly health care, hospital services and low home help wages were hot agenda items when Queenstown’s new Elders’ Council met with Clutha Southland MP Todd Barclay in September.

The council was launched as local elderly lobby group for Queenstown Lakes District elderly. The meeting was the sevenmember council’s first, and chairperson Betty Gray said everything from the future of local hospital services to affordable housing was discussed.

The costs of having to travel to health appointments at regional base hospitals, including Dunedin and Southland, was a growing concern, she said.

‘‘Many of us are unable to drive ourselves that distance, especially to return in a day,’’ she said.

Many older people had been forced to move out of the district to be closer to adequate hospital care, she said.

‘‘A lot of people just want improved hospital services.’’

Housing was a major concern, especially for elderly living on a pension or fixed income, she said.

‘‘It’s getting very frustrating to buy into the market here. We often think of Queenstown as a young people’s town.

‘‘Maybe it is, but that doesn’t mean we’re not here, and people need to be reminded,’’ Gray said.

The new Elders’ Council favoured retirement villages, and more medium density housing, as well as improved home help care availability, she said.

‘‘Health is our major concern,’’ Gray said. Concerns were raised at the meeting about low wages for elderly home help.

Barclay said the Government was discussing aged care wages with district health boards, unions and aged care help providers at present.

It would also fund an increase in elective surgical operations.

Two proposed Wakatipu retirement villages – the 51ha Queenstown Country Club development at Lake Hayes and Arrowtown Retirement Village – included much-needed care facilities and were greatly welcomed, Barclay said. ‘‘There’s a real need for this level of rest-home care in the Wakatipu area and the Government’s approval of these Special Housing Areas recognises that,’’ he said.

Many older residents had been in the Wakatipu for decades and this gave them an opportunity to remain in the district, without relocating to care facilities elsewhere.

Barclay encouraged the new council to continue to advocate for elderly needs.

The Elders’ Council will make a submission about the future of health care to the Southern District Health Board, pushing for improvements and expansion of services at Lakes District Hospital.

‘‘We want healthcare services in Queenstown improved, particularly for the elderly,’’ Gray said.