North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Age Concern loses on elder abuse funding
Organisations like Age Concern North Shore have had funding cut to help pay for a change in elder abuse services, including a new helpline.
At a North Shore meeting on Thursday, Minister for Seniors Maggie Barry announced a new, nationwide Elder Abuse Response Service (EARS).
The service included a new 24/7 free-phone line to improve the speed and effectiveness of how elder abuse cases were dealt with.
People were being trained for the helpline, which would start from July 1, Barry said.
But at the meeting, Age Concern North Shore executive officer Janferie Bryce-Chapman said the organisation’s funding for elder abuse had been cut in a tender process, with changes set to start on July 1.
‘‘We have a tender renewed but it’s a little less funding because the funding’s been spread wider,’’ she said.
The organisation currently responded to 80 cases a year of elder abuse but would be funded to deal with only 50 cases a year, Bryce-Chapman said.
Its funding for elder abuse education and awareness had also been removed, so it would not be able to talk to groups and homecare facilities about the symptoms of elder abuse.
After the meeting, BryceChapman said the lack of funding for education was ‘‘short-sighted’’ and the cut in case funding was a real concern.
‘‘We’re funded for 50 cases, what do we do after that? We’re seeing 80 a year. If they [the Government] is going to go raise awareness and people are going to come to our door, somehow we will have to fundraise.’’
Barry said $1.2 million had been re-prioritised in an effort to be more efficient.
‘‘The education and information component no longer rests with Age Concern central but will be taken through from the Office of Seniors and distributed.’’
The changes were also about ensuring the 0800 number was available, Barry said.
However, she was unsure how many people were expected to ring the helpline, and said it would get more funding if needed.
The number was 0800 EA NOT OK or 0800 32 668 65.
The meeting was attended by about 50 people, many of whom were seniors or working with seniors. It also included a lively debate about the End of Life Choice bill.