Cuts appal elderly mum’s son

The son of the 96-year-old whose home help is on the chopping block is appalled at the situation that has left the woman on her own.

He has taken aim at health officials, saying they are more concerned about pleasing beancounters than looking after vulnerable people.

Trixie Cottingham has lived in the same house, just outside Levin, for 68 years, but her future there is under threat due to a policy change by her carers.

She relies on them to provide her with 90 minutes of cleaning a week, but Midcentral District Health Board has cut that service.

Her son, Chris Cottingham, is appalled at his mother’s treatment by the people charged with helping her.

‘‘The DHBS are no longer there to serve people. They are there to accommodate Government and abate accountants.’’

Cottingham said he would be appealing the change, meaning his mother keeps her services until that process concludes.

Midcentral says it will conduct an urgent appeal to resolve the situation.

The DHB policy change means homecare help will only be given to those who also need personal services, such as showering and being dressed.

Those who don’t, like Trixie Cottingham, no longer qualify and will lose everything – unless they are given an exemption.

Chris Cottingham said he was told by the DHB that the change in policy was made because too many people were ‘‘rorting the system’’ and claiming more than they were entitled to.

‘‘I am distressed to think I am in fact punished for my honesty,’’ he wrote in a letter on behalf of his mother.

The DHB has disputed this.

‘‘If she said she needed help, she would have got help. They are encouraging dishonesty,’’ Chris Cottingham said.

The policy change affecting his mother was ‘‘based on short-term money savings’’.

Cottingham said his mother used to have two hours’ help a week, and that was cut back to one hour and a half.

Midcentral chief executive Kathryn Cook said they understood the distress Trixie Cottingham was experiencing.

‘‘Enabling older people to continue living independent lives in their own home for as long as possible is a priority for Midcentral.’’

The DHB no longer provided housekeeping support, apart from where it made exceptions where ‘‘there were special circumstances’’, she said.

The DHB was assessing 1000 people who had been receiving homecare services only.

Twenty-five reviews have been undertaken so far, of which three had been overturned.

Of the 1000 people, about 300 people have so far been assessed.

Just under half of those had been given an extended service, while just over half of those required a reduction or no services.

Cook said about 150 people no longer required an assessment because they had moved, or for another reason, such as death.

Cook said the DHB was facing challenges as the population grew older. ‘‘In the Horowhenua area, where Mrs Cottingham lives, over 24 per cent of the population is aged over 65 years which compares to the national average of 15 per cent.

‘‘In Horowhenua, the number of people aged 65 and over is increasing by 3 per cent each year.’’

Since the Manawatu Standard broke the story on Thursday, several members of the public have come forward to offer help to Trixie Cottingham.