Age Concern to spread festive cheer
Age Concern Nelson Tasman hopes to deliver about 65 Christmas care packages to vulnerable older people who might be alone this festive season – up from 57 last year.
Manager Caroline Budge said the charity had dealt with a ‘‘significant increase’’ in cases of elder abuse. Case numbers had risen from fewer than 100 in the 2017-18 financial year to 142 in 2018-19. There had been more than 100 cases in the 2019 calendar year to date, up from ‘‘80-something’’ at the same time last year.
Budge said she did not know whether the increase indicated that elder abuse was more prevalent or pointed to a greater awareness that ‘‘people can do something about it’’.
The Age Concern team had also experienced an increase in the number of people looking for greater social connection. In the past financial year, 119 volunteer visitors were matched with older people in their homes via the charity’s accredited visiting service.
‘‘That’s up 11 per cent on the previous year,’’ Budge said.
There was also growth in other Age Concern services, including van trips for older people, and the intergenerational Tea and Tech initiative, where young people work alongside older people, helping them with technology such as smartphones and computers.
‘‘Christmas can be a particularly challenging time for many of our more vulnerable and isolated older people, and we want to make sure they know that there are people out there thinking about that and looking out for them,’’ Budge said.
Age Concern is seeking donations of non-perishable food, toiletries and treats to fill the packages, and will be working again with children from Richmond School to make them up. The children also create Christmas cards and tags for the recipients. Staff from Richmond insurance brokers Crombie Lockwood will help to deliver the packages.
Donated items can be left at Age Concern Nelson Tasman’s office at 62 Oxford St, Richmond between 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, by November 30.