Rest Home Residents to Be Relocated

Rest Home Residents to Be Relocated

Almost 200 residents from a number of aged care facilities in Canterbury are being relocated over the next few days. This is due to structural problems with the buildings they have been living in and on-going problems with the water supply.

David Meates, Chief Executive of the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) said the residents have been safe and very well looked after since the quake struck. “However, despite the extra measures staff have put in place, the situation is not sustainable.”

“The managers of these rest homes have gone to great lengths to maintain routines and minimise disruption to their residents and patients – some of the most vulnerable people in our community - and I commend their efforts to date,” David Meates said

Stella Ward, CDHB’s Executive Director of allied health said the DHB had established a response team focused on coordinating health and support services for older people in Canterbury.

“The Aged Residential Care sector have really pulled together to ensure a smooth transition is planned for each resident. The rest homes involved are taking time to ensure the affected residents are being relocated to a new “home” that will meet their needs in the short term, while longer-term plans can be put in place. Families are being involved in the process.

“Nurses, caregivers and support staff have been brilliant and many who have been personally affected by the quake have kept coming in to work, often working longer hours than usual to ensure resident’s needs are met,” Ms Ward said.

Residents will progressively be moved from tomorrow, and it is expected most will be rehoused by the end of the week.

Ms Ward said the DHB’s response team for older people would also be working to ensure home based support services would continue to be provided to those in the greatest need. “We will be talking with home care providers to see how they are managing when many of their clients have moved house since the quake – some are now staying with family or friends and their support needs are likely to have changed,” Stella Ward said. “We need to ensure our valuable home care resources are targeted to where they are most needed.”

ENDS