With Christmas coming up, it’s a good time to remember that many older people don’t have family around, and might be spending Christmas alone. We want to help make things a bit easier, and we need your help to do that. Every year, Age Concern Nelson Tasman makes up Christmas care packages to give out to our more vulnerable older people across the region.
We’re now looking for donations of non-perishable foods, toiletries and treats that we can use for this wonderful campaign. Last year we distributed 57 packages, and this year we’re hoping it’ll be around 65.
Caroline Budge, Manager of Age Concern Nelson Tasman says this year has seen a significant increase in the cases of elder abuse they deal with, as well as an uptake on people looking for more social connection. ‘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.
‘The Christmas packages are so warmly received and provide a welcome boost of food staples, treats and kindness at a time of year when being alone can be hard. It is so wonderful to see the looks at people’s face when they get a package. It is truly heart-warming,’ says Caroline.
Age Concern is delighted to be working in partnership again this year with children from Richmond Primary School, who make beautiful Christmas cards and tags, as well as making up the packages. This year we are also fortunate to have staff from Richmond-based insurance broker firm Crombie Lockwood Nelson, to help deliver these packages as volunteer drivers.
If you would like to contribute please drop off your donations to Age Concern Nelson Tasman, 62 Oxford Street by 30 November 2019. Alternatively if you know someone who would benefit from a package please let us know. Thanks very much.
We are really excited to announce that work on renovating the Hall has begun. The Hall is officially closed during October and November and we are planning a grand reopening in December. We have been so fortunate to receive over $10,000 in donations from our wonderful members of Age Concern and also secured $30,000 from the Rata Foundation. This means we now have all the necessary funds to complete all the renovations.
Our renovations consist of putting in two new offices, new toilets and kitchen, and refurbishing the Hall itself to make it a warm, bright, modern space with a funky retro feel. We will also be getting new furniture and fittings.
During October and November, Tea & Talk and Sing Yourself Well are being held in the Holy Trinity Anglican Church Hall at 27 Dorset Street, Richmond at their usual times of 10am to 11.30am.
Our AGM was held on 16 September and was a fantastic celebration of the achievements of Age Concern Nelson Tasman over the past year. The AGM was well attended by over 55 of our members and was followed by a wonderful light lunch. The Annual Report to the AGM clearly captured how much the organisation has grown over the previous year, including how our activities and services have extended. Please click on the link to read the Annual Report.
We recently had an inspiring couple of days with Dr Kate Riegle van West of SpinPoi who delivered three workshops to train people to run their own SpinPoi classes. The health benefits of this fun exercise include not only improved grip strength, balance and flexibility in older adults, but Kate’s PhD showed that it improved cognition and overall wellbeing as well. During the two days, she ran three workshops, and over 40 people were trained to run classes for all abilities – from independent and healthy older adults to those at rest home and hospital level care. You can see from the photo essay below how much fun we all had. Keep your eye out for SpinPoi classes which will start popping up over the region over the next few months.
Please click on the link below to read our latest Magazine.
Issue 3 2019 Spring – Age Concern Nelson
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
