Services for older people

Nelson Marlborough Health assists older people to continue to live safely and independently in the community.

Staff will work with you and your family to help you make the best decisions about your health and wellbeing. Our assessment will:

• identify your needs
• focus on maintaining your independence
• identify steps to help you meet your potential
• put a support plan in place.

If you require in-home support, we will ask you to select an agency who will let us know how you are getting on. If it is necessary to adjust your support plan you will be involved with these decisions.

Regular reviews will help to ensure you have the appropriate support to maintain maximum independence.

Support is available to help you with your personal care needs (eg, washing or dressing) or essential housework.

We will always focus on helping you to be as independent as possible, or to regain any lost independence.

Personal care support

If you receive help to have a shower, your helper should also clean the shower afterwards. Please note:

• your individual circumstances determine the frequency of this type of support
• your preferred time to have a shower may not always be suitable due to the high demand for showering assistance early in the morning or last thing in the evening.

Essential housework support

This support ensures your home environment is not hazardous to your health.  Essential housework tasks include:

• cleaning bathrooms (if not already completed as part of the personal care support)
• changing bed linen
• cleaning kitchen surfaces and floors
• vacuuming the main living areas

Housework does not ordinarily extend to dusting, cleaning windows or any maintenance of the exterior. 

Eligibility for housework services

• a current Community Services Card is required
• if you do not have a card, and housework support is your only need, you may be required to pay for this service
• if you have someone living with you that may be able to help you are not eligible for this support

The providers are Access Community Health and Nurse Maude.

Day programmes connect you with your community.

You will be picked up, taken home, and you will receive a meal before going home. Day programmes are tailored to your particular circumstances and are available for people who:

• have poor mobility
• have memory loss or other cognitive changes
• would prefer to attend smaller groups held in people’s homes
• would prefer larger groups or activities hosted by their residential care provider.

Your Support Works assessor will help you to decide a suitable programme.

Respite care is available for people who are cared for in their home by someone who lives with them.

If you are a caregiver and need a break, have to go into hospital or become unwell, we can organise respite care for the person you care for.

Find out where respite can be provided.

Carer support is another way that we can give you a rest from caring for someone.

It is different from respite, where the person you care for stays elsewhere temporarily.

Instead, someone will come to your house while you are away. They can claim reimbursement but are not considered to be a 'paid carer'.

For more details on when you can claim carer support.

For more details on any of the above services please contact Support Works.