The second annual AgeConnect Champions Awards, to recongise all the organisations, businesses and individuals supporting older people in the region, were held on 2 August. These were once again a great success and well attended. Overall we recognised 146 AgeConnect Champions, people who do amazing things to help make Nelson Tasman age-friendly and keep older people connected in their community. There were eight different categories and five finalist in each category. Congratulations to everybody for their AgeConnect Champion Award. We really appreciate all you do and thank you for helping to make Nelson Tasman a better place for older people. Winners are identified below:
AgeConnect-Friendly Environment Champion: Enliven Presbyterian Support Service’s facility for the Harakeke and Totara Day Programmes
Outstanding Elder-friendly Customer Service Champion: Tasman District Library – Housebound Book Delivery Service
Creating Connections Champion: Bowater Toyota
Above and Beyond Champions: Victory Boxing’s Parkinson’s Programme
One Person Makes a Difference Champion: Sally Curtis & Tyson the horse
Intergenerational Champions: Waimea College
60+ Employer of the Year finalist: Fulton Hogan LTD
Magic FM People’s Choice Champion: Sport Tasman, Richmond Town Hall’s Mary-Ann McNatty and Anna Kuipers
Supreme AgeConnect Champion: Men’s Shed Waimea
Cold knees? Cold hands? We have a solution! We have a number of blankets and quilts in varying sizes as well as beanies, socks and hand-warmers which have been kindly donated to us from the Nelson and Tahunanui Knitting Groups and the Nelson Quilters Guild. If you know anyone who would benefit from having one of these then please contact Marrit on 5447624 Ext 4 or community@ageconcernnt.org.nz.
Thanks very much to everyone who donated. We are busy handing out all these wonderful items and are not looking for further donations at the moment.
It is ok to ask Age Concern for help.
Age Concern is raising awareness of elder abuse during Elder Abuse Awareness Week from 15-22 June 2019 which begins on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June 2019.Age Concern Nelson Tasman mark this day every year as part of a worldwide collaboration to highlight this dreadful and often hidden type of abuse. Let’s not keep it hidden. Let’s make sure that anyone who has concerns for an older person knows they can contact Age Concern Nelson Tasman and discuss it in confidence.
Caroline Budge, Manager says “We will listen to people’s concerns, offer to assess the situation, respect the wishes of the older person affected and always make sure the safety and wellbeing of the older person is the main consideration”. “What that means in reality is working together with an aim to resolve concerns cooperatively. We aim to find ways to support older people to live safely, make their own decisions and be respected,” says Budge.
Age Concern Nelson Tasman responded to over 90 elder abuse cases in the past year. Unfortunately, Age Concern elder abuse statistics show that 80 percent of alleged abusers are family members with 78 percent of cases including psychological abuse and 49 percent involve financial abuse. Alleged abusers are almost as likely to be female as male.
If you suspect and older person is not being treated well or want to report abuse please contact us on 5447624. If you are experiencing a crisis or emergency, and someone’s safety is at risk please call the emergency services on 111.
As part of Elder Abuse Awareness Week, Age Concern Nelson Tasman are having a sausage sizzle at Mitre 10 on Saturday 15 June and running purple morning teas at their various Tea & Talks across the region from 10am to 11.30am. Feel free to dress up in purple. See below for details.
We are making progress on gaining the funding need to renovate our Hall. If you would like to make a donation please let us know or go to our Give A Little Page.
Funds Raised
Click below to read the latest issue of our Magazine.
Issue 2 2019 Winter – Age Concern Nelson
The health benefits of singing out loud have been well documented – there are all sorts of good reasons to limber up and exercise your vocal chords, including making you happier, improving your breathing and posture. With that in mind, Age Concern Nelson Tasman has just launched a great new initiative for older people. Sing Yourself Well is on every Tuesday morning at our hall on Oxford Street, and is a great opportunity to come along, learn some fun, familiar songs and meet new people.
The sessions are led by passionate singer and choir leader Ruth Collingham, who now lives in Wakefield, and was the Founding Singing Leader of the highly successful Sing Your Lungs Out choir in Wellington. Ruth says Sing Yourself Well is not about being a great singer, but simply having a go and making it fun and relaxing. The sessions are aimed at people of all singing abilities.
Sing Yourself Well is on Tuesdays at 10am to 11.30, with morning tea. For more information contact Marrit on 5447624 ext 4, or email at: community@ageconcernnt.org.nz
Age Concern Nelson/Tasman’s Breffni O’Rourke demonstrated the new Age Connect website to the Nelson Leader.
Our annual series of gentle, fun activity for seniors is almost at and end. We have one final event on Wednesday 27th March, which is a fun sing-a-long in Anzac Park in Nelson. Why not come and join us!
We are delighted to unveil our new look website for Autumn 2019. We hope to improve community communication and use the website to support and strengthen our services, advice, support, information and advocacy on a range of issues and encourage positive ageing for people of all ages.
AgeConnect is a nation-first initiative from Age Concern Nelson Tasman, set up in 2017 to help build friendships and community connections for the over 65s across the region. We’re excited to have launched our new website that not only features our great services such as Tea & Tech, PetConnect and AgeConnect Champions, but has a full listing of events and activities for older people across the region. Why not take a browse and find out what’s on offer.
Check out AgeConnect now.
