Harsh home help cut hurts sick pensioner

An assessor cut Vicky Drew's home help by an hour a week. Photo / Supplied

Vicky Drew's home help was cut from 90 minutes a week to 60 minutes a fortnight, several months after a telephone assessment by her local health board.

The 85-year-old has two artificial knees, needs a hip replacement and has two vertebrae out of place, one of which is fractured.

Three weeks ago she had cataract surgery on her left eye; her right eye has macula degeneration and she has some hearing loss. She also has arthritis and a lot of pain.

The helper still vacuums, mops, and cleans the bathroom and toilet, but no longer cleans the furniture.

Mrs Drew struggles through that by herself but is afraid she will have to give up as the pain in her legs is too great.

"It took me two hours to dust the furniture in the lounge. She [the helper] said, 'You don't look well'. I said, 'I don't feel well; I feel buggered'."

Mrs Drew, who lives at Paraparaumu Beach on the Kapiti Coast, believes the Capital & Coast DHB cut her hours because she goes to the gym regularly and sells Avon cosmetics.

But she says the weight-bearing exercise helps to increase her bone density and reduce the risk of fractures.

And she manages to sell Avon with very little walking since customers come out to her car. She says the work improves her motivation, which helps keeps her mind off the pain.

Mrs Drew is among many hundreds of DHB patients in Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Southland to have her home help reviewed via a telephone needs assessment.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says that while many had their home help hours reduced, others had an increase.

Capital & Coast DHB communications adviser Raylene Bateman said: "We've always reassessed people as and when we've needed to."