The Canterbury District Health Board has not reduced the amount it is
spending on home-based support services for older people and is in fact
investing in programmes to help them stay in their own homes for longer.

Chief Executive David Meates said the CDHB had taken the responsible step
of re-assessing all older people receiving domestic assistance to determine
their ongoing need for it using an internationally validated assessment tool.

“So far, we have identified people whose level of support needs to be
increased but we have also found a number of people who do not have a
health-related need for domestic assistance as they are otherwise socially
active and well. This is a responsible use of precious taxpayer money by
ensuring that these services are being allocated to those with the highest
need,” Mr Meates said.

In line with its increased focus on helping older people to stay in their homes
for longer, the CDHB has also introduced an initiative where support workers
work with older people who are assessed as needing extra help to improve
their mobility, to help them resume daily activities and to be more socially
independent. Under another initiative, older people with dementia are
supported to stay at home.

Unless an older person has been allocated short term domestic assistance
only, their GP will be informed before an assessment so any health concerns
can be raised.

All older people currently being assessed over the telephone are spoken to by
a health professional who uses a tool specifically designed to be used in
telephone assessment.
ENDS

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