Centre for elderly opened

Press, 27 November 1982, Page 6

Centre for elderly opened

The first community daycare centre in Christchurch for the elderly has opened at Hornby House. It will take in old people on Tuesdays and Fridays to give relief to people who usually look after A group of community workers formed a steering committee to make the centre a reality. It is run by a core of 40 volunteers from the Hornby area, who each give four hours .once a fortnight to look after the old people, give them a midday meal, and keep them occupied. The centre uses a house owned by the North Canterbury Hospital Board, rent free. Equipment for cooking, and money to help with

costs, has been given by Hornby firms. Ms Liz Mcßaild, who works for the’ Hospital Board’s Geriatric and Domiciliary Services Co-ordinat-ing Centre, is organising the centre. After December, one of the volunteers will take over her co-ordinating role. “There is a tremendous community spirit in Hornby. The people in the area have got the project going themselves,” Ms Mcßaild said. Miss Isobel Nichol, a public health nurse, a member of the centre’s steering committee. said that the community newspapers in the area had published an article calling for volunteers. The response had been good and

people were still offering help. The centre caters for 20 elderly people living in the Hornby area, who have either a spouse, son. or daughter. “Most of them require constant surveillance,” Ms Mcßaild said. The elderly people attend from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Transport for them is one of the main problems facing the centre, and the steering committee is examining the possibility of raising funds for a mini-bus or alternative transport next year. “At present the elderly people are just talking, getting to know one another, but soon they will start on activities and possibly some occupational therapy,” Ms

Mcßaild said. Plans include having a newspaper read to them, relaxation exercises, yoga, playing table games and going for short walks. "It is important that the activities mean something to the old people. We do not want them to feel that they’ are just filling in time.” she said. A charge of $3 a session is made for each person to help cover the costs of taxi transport and the midday meal. Handrails have been put up in the bathroom and some other places. A wheelchair ramp still has to be built and a handrail will also be required outside. Hospital Board approval of the project has only just been given.