Link Between State And Voluntary Work

Press, Issue 29236, 21 June 1960, Page 2

Link Between State And Voluntary Work

“The partnership between the voluntary associations and the Department of Health has resulted in the high standard of services for old people in New Zealand/' said Mr J. F. Tasker, executive officer of the Department of Health in Christchurch, at the annual meeting of the Nurse Maude District Nursing Association yesterday.

“This partnership will continue for many years; therein lies our hope for the future,” he said.

Mr Tasker outlined recent work by the Health Department, in conjunction with voluntary organisations, in social services for the aged in New Zealand. The Advisory Council on the Care of the Aged, set up in 1955, was a major step, he said. The council’s work was to co-ordinate all welfare work in the community, and to report on any proposals coming forward for consideration by the Government. Members of the council included representatives of hospital boards, churches, and social welfare organisations. The council provided a valuable link between the Health Department and the voluntary societies, said Mr Tasker. Meals on Wheels One of the council’s first jobs was to establish a Dominion-wide meals-on-wheels scheme. The five schemes then in existence were reviewed, and the council proposed to the Government that these schemes should remain in existence, and that extensions should be made where required. The new schemes were based on hospital boards, but made use of voluntary services, he said. Cooking was done in hospital kitchehs, where facilities and trained staff were available. By retaining voluntary assistance, the scheme retained the character of a community service, and provided a personal link with the old people. To take away the reproach of charity a small charge was made for the meals, although this was remitted tn cases of hardship. "Today there are 16 or 17 schemes of this kind in operation in New Zealand, serving more than 670 old people,” said Mr Tasker Laundry Service A laundry service was established in 1957 to fill a widespread need, said Mr Tasker. Like the meals-on-wheels scheme it was based on hospital boards, with voluntary assistance. The service was restricted to those physically incapable of doing their own washing, and those who had no friends or relations to help them. Sheets, towels and blankets were collected, laundered in hospital laundries and returned, for a nominal charge. "Eight am now operating in New. Zealand, serving 170 old people.** said Mr Tasker. A newsletter put out by the Department of Health provided information from the department to organisations working in the interests of old people.; He hoped it would become a medium

for the exchange of information throughout the country, said Mr Tasker.

•'The department is indebted to the voluntary organisations for their help and information, and the newsletter is an attempt to repay this debt,” he said. Directory

The department also produced a directory of homes and clubs for old people, which was of use to social workers, and it had sponsored training seminars on the care of the aged. Two of these courses had been held in Christchurch. In 1958 the matrons of old peoples’ homes met to discuss “Human Relations in Old People’s Homes,” and in 1959 members of the boards of homes studied administrative problems. "The department is not ignorant of the magnificent work being done by voluntary associations throughout New Zealand. We are continually amazed by its quality and high standards.” said Mr Tasker.