Voice of elderly now being heard

By TOM CLARKE

Elderly people have been overlooked for too long, but that is changing, says Garth Taylor, the new chief executive of the welfare organisation, Age Concern.

Increasingly, he says, the Government is looking to the organisation for advice and guidance on issues concerning the elderly.

The Government seems sympathetic towards older people, he believes, and Age Concern hopes this attitude continues.

Mr Taylor says he can not be specific, "but certainly there appears to be a better and a warmer attitude coming through to us about the older sector." His organisation believes it will get a better hearing because of the Government's apparent interest.

In the past the elderly have been forgotten by governments, he says. National superannuation was knocked back, for example, and in many cases health services to the elderly were reduced.

Mr Taylor says that while Grey Power has been the high-profile voice on particular issues for the elderly in recent years, Age Concern has been effectively working quietly in the background.

It has a "good reputation" and many fine people working for it and supporting it.

Age Concern aims to ensure the "clear strong voice"of those aged 65 plus is heard by the Government about the things that affect them, he says.

With the predicted rapid increase in the numbers of elderly people over the next few decades, Mr Taylor says it would not be a "bad idea" to have a ministry for the elderly.

"Certainly, if it was an advocate for older New Zealanders I'd be right behind it."

Mr Taylor says Age Concern has the basic structures in place to ensure it can grow as increasing numbers of elderly New Zealanders put more demands on its services, but like most social agencies and organisations it has a funding problem.

Mr Taylor takes up the Wellington-based position from the Nelson Golf Club where he was general manager. He has held a number of managerial positions in banking and finance, and been involved in the voluntary sector with CCS South Canterbury, the Cancer Society and Rotary. In 1996 he became regional manager elder care for Presbyterian Support in the upper South Island. He managed rest home residential care and had an overview of the senior support division.