Positively older

Youth leave and retired people come to live.
Brick Mathieson has lived 40 years in Stratford and said a lot of retired people come to live in the town.
As a fourth-term Stratford District councillor and chair of the Positive Ageing Steering Committee (PASC), Brick saw that older people in the community required a voice, and they also needed to be better informed about what was available to them.
"We hold three forums a year and bring in some wonderful professional speakers."
PASC held meetings which were informal; were advertised ahead of the date, had an agenda, minutes were taken and everything was on the table and voted on.
In June, Stratford's elderly heard about coeliac disease (gluten intolerance), how to maintain a healthy mind, the facts about alzheimers, how to keep active in age and what was a safe and healthy home.
Brick said at their November 7 meeting, guest speakers include the office for Senior Citizens and Work and Income policy advisor, Dr Craig Ashcroft, would speak about equity loans, or reverse mortgages.
"We will also hear about palliative care and what is available and getting Neighbourhood Watch going again."
Brick is one of six trustees on the Taranaki Electricity Trust (TET) that hands out $6 million every year from Eltham to Waitara.
TET has reached out to its elderly citizens supplying over 30 mobility scooters.
"We assess their (client's) need and make sure they can house it, and there is a plug to charge the battery."
This is the rewarding part of Brick's job, which he loves. "We look after the people who want to get out and help them with their independence."
TET also supplies electric wheelchairs to the elderly.
"PASC is about raising the awareness (of our elderly).
"As a councillor I think it's our social responsibility to look after the elderly, as well as our youth.
"I would like to further the work with the elderly in a caring community."