Wolf closing in on Age Concern

TOUGH TIMES: Age Concern Kaitaia and District manager Julie Moebus (front with receptionist Gayle Hill) is finding it increasingly difficult to offer services with a dwindling income.

Age Concern Kaitaia manager Julie Moebus has no doubt that her organisation is making a significant contribution to the well-being of elderly folk in the district north of the Hokianga Harbour and Totara North, and she has the statistics to prove it.

Last year the office received 3441 requests for service, but while it was nice to feel needed, and gratifying to be able to help people in need, a looming financial crisis was threatening that.

The organisation did receive funding from a number of sources, but criteria changed from time to time, which could create difficulties. In financial terms each Age Concern office was independent of the national organisation, however, so there was no help from that quarter.

The only solution, Ms Moebus said, was for the community to step up, but that was problematic too.

She accepted that the Far North economy was hardly booming, and that there were many competing demands, including the on-going restoration of post-quake Christchurch, for the charity dollar, but Age Concern really was facing a bleak future.

"We really are struggling," Ms Moebus said, "but there is no shortage of demand for our services."

Those services fundamentally revolved around providing information, advice and support for the elderly, often employing contacts within a raft of other organisations, from charities such as the Stroke Foundation to Work and Income.

"We can ensure that the elderly receive all that they are entitled to. We can even arrange needs assessments and home support," she added.

"We have health promotion meetings once a month, organise outings and find the answers to all the questions an elderly person might have. We've even talked to the banks about the signs of dementia, the potential for elderly customers to be scammed and the signs of financial abuse.

"What we can't do at the moment is employ a social worker, as we have done in the past and would like to do now, because we can't afford one."

The situation was piling responsibilities on to her shoulders, and while she hadn't buckled (yet) she had reached the point where there weren't enough hours in the day.

The organisation had set up a givealittle page in the hope of attracting support, and anyone who had any ideas about fundraising, or would like to donate, however modestly, would be very welcome to call in at the office (next to ASB Bank in Commerce Street).

Membership was another means of providing support. That cost $15 a year, in return for which members received a discount card recognised by 40 businesses in Kaitaia and Doubtless Bay.

"All our services are free, confidential, and aimed at enabling older people to remain living in their own homes, maximising their independence and quality of life," Ms Moebus added.

"We provide the only elder abuse and neglect prevention services north of Whangarei, and are the only service in the Far North that dedicates its services to assisting the elderly and their families."

The financial situation was having an impact however. Last year the organisation's elder abuse and neglect prevention service received 31 new referrals and 15 inquiries, resolving 29 of them (while others were on-going). Twenty-five cases had to be turned down though, because the money needed could not be found.

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Donations may be made at the office (101 Commerce Street Kaitaia), by cheque (to Age Concern Kaitaia, PO Box 538 Kaitaia 0441), directly to ASB account 12-3096-0234015-00 (Kaitaia and District Age Concern Inc.), or via www.givealittle.co.nz/org/ageconcernkta