Age Concern Seniorwatch | Kōrerokaumātua # 344

Age Concern SeniorWatch | KōreroKaumātua # 344

A compilation of media articles during the past week from throughout New Zealand about older people or related issues.

Quake strain catalyst for elder abuse | The Press

…Age Concern Canterbury is seeing more than 100 referrals for serious "elder abuse" a year, chief executive Simon Templeton said…

Old(er) people in Christchurch are being bashed and taken advantage of as earthquake-hit Canterbury families crack under the strain of years being lumped together in overcrowded homes…

Templeton said some of the city's elderly had been "been round every family member" in need of somewhere to stay. Up to 10 members of an extended family were living in two- and three-bedroomed homes, not counting the number of friends "boarding" together or living in "outbuildings" including garages, sleep-outs and sheds, Templeton said. Families had been trying to handle the situation in-house, but many now needed professional help. "Generally by the time it comes to our knowledge [at Age Concern] it becomes an elder abuse case", Templeton said. The abuse ranged from "heavy end assault" to emotional and psychological mistreatment, Templeton said.

Read the entire article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/10372440/Quake-strain-catalyst-for-elder-abuse

Call to address ageing population | Radio NZ

…The co-director of Auckland University's Retirement Policy and Research Centre, Michael Littlewood… says successive governments have ignored the future effect of an ageing population, and more research is needed to prepare for it…

Mr Littlewood said more data needed to be collected about wealth, and the transition from working full time to full-time retirement…

The chief executive of Age Concern, Robyn Scott, says with more people wanting to continue working for longer, some employers may have to consider changing their policies.

"There will, I believe, be workplaces crying out for and wishing to hang onto the skills and expertise of older people.”

"Whether or not workplaces are prepared for that in terms of thinking through their employment policies, whether they want to have some flexibility around their employment ... whether workplaces are ready for this group is a different question."

Read the entire article: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/252201/call-to-address-ageing-population

Power company telemarketers abusing elderly | Taranaki Daily News An 84-year-old pensioner living alone has been hit with big bills after being targeted by a series of telemarketers and persuaded to swap power companies… she has been upset to find that in one case she attracted an extra $100 on her bill and in another was required by Genesis pay a $150 penalty for breaking her contract… Her family has called for power companies to stop targeting vulnerable customers and for checks and balances to be put in place… Kelli Sutton says she is angry that her grandmother was taken in by the slick talk from telemarketers who she believes have taken advantage of her in a form of elderly abuse. Age Concern chief executive Robyn Scott, Wellington, said there were many similar cases. A good way to deal with telemarketers was to ask them to put their offers in writing and post them, she said.

Read the entire article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/10376970/Power-company-telemarketers- abusing-elderly

Silver surfers could boost Gigatown chances | Nelson Mail

Nelson's high percentage of elderly residents may turn out to be its secret weapon in the battle to be New Zealand's most- connected town. Gigatown is a national competition run by Chorus NZ. It encourages teams such as Gigatown Nelson to complete multimedia challenges…The town with the greatest number of points by New Year's Day will be rewarded with an ultrafast broadband internet connection. Tutors from the SeniorNet community training network pledged their support at Gigatown's new office in Halifax St yesterday. The group boasts around 650 members, each of whom will be asked to sign up to the Gigatown competition… SeniorNet chairman Lindsay Hunter … supports Gigatown because he feels increased internet speed could dramatically improve Nelson's economy, which may then encourage older people's grandchildren to stay in Nelson by providing them with jobs…

Read the entire article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/10383126/Silver-surfers-could-boost-Gigatown-chances

Grey power welcomes labour health policy | Scoop.co.nz

Grey Power welcomes the announcement made in the Labour Party Health policy that people aged over 65 will receive free Doctor visits and pay no prescription charges…

Grey Power has advocated for this policy for several years as many elderly people who have National Superannuation as their only source of income cannot afford to pay to visit the Doctor or Dentist when they should due to unaffordability.

Read the entire article: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1408/S00175/grey-power-welcomes-labour-health-policy.htm

Free doctor visits might hit services says doctor | Marlborough Express

A promise by Labour to provide those aged over 65 with free health care would have initial benefits for the elderly, but may end up impacting the services available to them, a Marlborough doctor says. Blenheim GP Grant Johnston said free doctor visits and prescriptions for over 65s would increase GPs' workload, as when a similar policy was put in place for children under 6. Labour leader David Cunliffe announced the policy as part of a major health package on Sunday. It would take years for the financial impacts to come to light as the population got increasingly older, but the policy would be good news for elderly right now, Johnston said. "For a person who's on a fixed income, who needs to see a doctor quite frequently, this will be a huge advantage for them personally, of course."

Read the entire article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/10377029/Free-doctor-visits-might-hit- services-says-doctor

Help us create an inclusive society where all older people are valued, supported and empowered.

At the heart of everything Age Concern does is a passion to see older people experience wellbeing, respect, dignity, and to be included and valued.

We support, inform and advise older people on issues such as access to health care, transport, housing, financial entitlements, social opportunities.

We also work to combat real problems in our society, like elder abuse and neglect, chronic loneliness and social isolation. We provide specialist services with trained and qualified professionals able to give expert advice and assistance.

Age Concern is a charity and relies on the support of volunteers and public donations to do much of the work we do.

To help us help older people, please consider making a donation of your time or money. To see how, visit ageconcern.org.nz