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Community Support Guide

community support guide (1)

Understanding this Community Support Guide:

This Guide is intended for Age Concern Wellington Region Seniority Club Members.

The inclusion or exclusion of any of these contacts, services or products does not mean that Age Concern rejects or advocates them in any way. This is simply meant as a useful resource for seniors in the Wellington Region. Age Concern recognises that this guide is not a complete and comprehensive guide, and information may change over time so the information will not necessarily be up to date at all times.

If you would like new information or your service/business added to this list, or if you spot incorrect information in this resource, please contact

CONTENTS

Click on the topic heading below to jump to that section.

Banking

Broadband

Budgeting Help

Care Coordination

Carer Support Payments

Councils

Driving Support

Driving Assessments

Elder Abuse and Independent Living

Financial Advice

Financial Complaints

Fire Safety Home Visit

Food

Funeral Cost Assistance

Health and Disability Advocacy Service

Hearing

Hoarding Resources

House and Garden

Housing and Tenancy Advice

Kiwi Access Card

Legal

Medical and Medical Alarms

Mental Health / Counselling

Mobility Resources

NZ Police

NZ Super

Physical Health

Powerswitch

Residential Care and Residential Subsidy

Retirement

Senior Line

Social Workers

Super Gold Card

Total Mobility

Transport Options

Vaccinations

Volunteer/Timebank

WellAble

Winter Energy Payment

BANKING

  • Complaints against banks – Banking Ombudsman. 0800 805 950 https://bankomb.org.nz/
    • They will likely pass on the complaint in the first instance to the relevant bank’s complaints team. If no action, then they will step in and look at the complaint.
  • ASB Bank Senior Priority Direct Line 0800 272 119
  • Westpac Dementia friendly banking.
“We’re proud to be New Zealand’s first dementia friendly bank. Our aim is to help people with dementia to plan ahead, access financial services and get help to remain independent for as long as possible.” Tel: 0800 400 600

BROADBAND

Government Broadband Compare website lets people compare the best prices for Broadband to their home. https://www.broadbandcompare.co.nz/

BUDGETING HELP

Agape Budgeting Service: https://www.agapebudgeting.org.nz/   04 477 3000

CARE COORDINATION

Care Coordination collaborates with clients, families, and partners to find innovative solutions to challenging situations. Care Coordination is contracted to Te Whatu Ora – Capital, Coast, and Hutt Valley to facilitate access to funded services for people aged over 65 years, to address identified health-related personal care and carer support needs, and support people to remain safely in their own homes in line with the national “Aging in Place” strategy. Needs assessment for over 65’s, once need is assessed for support in the home a range of Packages of care can be implemented using either https://nursemaude.org.nz/wellington-hutt/
  • Access Community Health
https://www.access.org.nz/contact/ 0800 284 663

CARER SUPPORT PAYMENTS

As of mid-2023, carer support payments increased to $80 a day for up to 3 days a week. This payment is meant to allow a full-time carer (eg a wife of a husband with dementia) to have a break from caring. The payment can be used in very flexible ways such as having the person be taken out on an outing with Driving Miss Daisy. More information:  https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/our-health-system/claims-provider-payments-and-entitlements/carer-support-subsidy/#about-carer-support

COUNCILS

  • Upper Hutt City Council: com/or 04 527 2169
  • Greater Wellington Regional Council: 04 384 5708

DRIVING SUPPORT

DRIVING ASSESSMENTS

Some seniors are required by their DR to get a driving assessment before they can continue driving. This is where a qualified assessor visits the person and takes them for a driving test/assessment. This can be expensive (up to $700+).

ELDER ABUSE AND INDEPENDENT LIVING

    • Independent Living: Wesley Community Action (waitlist): 04 385 3727
        • Social workers for those living in their own homes, providing wrap around services etc.
  • Te Whare Tiaki has a Cultural Response to Elder Abuse and other concerns (from Newlands, Johnsonville up to Kapiti-Mana). They respond to a range of cultures including Māori, Pacifica, Asian, Middle Eastern and migrant communities. www.tiaki.org.nz  04 237 7027

FINANCIAL ADVICE

FINANCIAL COMPLAINTS

Financial Services Complaints Ltd – an independent, not-for-profit, dispute resolution service. Phone 0800 347 257 FSCL resolves complaints about financial service providers. A financial service is basically anything to do with money.  They can help with complaints about:
      • lenders
      • insurers
      • banks
      • credit unions
      • money transfer services
      • trustee companies
      • KiwiSaver
      • brokers
      • financial advisers
If you’re not sure which service the financial service provider belongs to, you can call any one of the following and they’ll transfer you through to the right place.
      • Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO)
      • Financial Services Complaints (FSCL) 0800 347 257
      • Financial Dispute Resolution Service (FDRS) 0508 337 337
      • Banking Ombudsman Scheme (BOS) 0800 805 950

FIRE SAFETY HOME VISIT

To book a free home fire safety visit, ring 0800 693 473

FOOD

      • Meals on Wheels: need GP (or nurse’s) referral. Managed through Red Cross and DHB. DHB sets costs. GP can best advise clients on this.
      • EAT UNLIMITED – a private food delivery service. All food fresh or frozen and pre-packaged in a range of sizes. https://eat.co.nz/

FUNERAL COST ASSISTANCE

Funeral costs can add to the stress of what is a difficult time for friends and families after the death of a loved one. However, you may be eligible for financial assistance from Work and Income, Veterans’ Affairs or ACC. Work and Income- Funeral Grant A Funeral Grant can help with essential funeral expenses, which are:
      • professional services for preparing the body for cremation or burial (for example, embalming)
      • the cost of a casket
      • newspaper notice costs
      • hearse fees
      • compulsory fees for buying a burial plot
      • cremation fees.
You don’t have to pay back a Funeral Grant if all the criteria are met. If the person who died is your partner or child your income needs to be under a certain limit. Click here for more information. Veterans’ Affairs- Funeral Expenses This is a one-off financial contribution for those eligible. You can apply for funeral costs for a veteran if:
      • they had qualifying operational service, or
      • their death was service-related.
If the death is not related to service or Qualifying Service, Veterans’ Affairs can help with funeral costs of a veteran if you’re eligible for at least one of these payments:
      • Surviving Spouse or Partner Pension
      • Dependant’s Pension
      • Children’s Pension
      • Survivor’s Grant
      • Weekly Compensation for Family
Learn more about Veterans’ Affairs – Funeral Expenses here. ACC For an accidental death, ACC can pay a grant towards funeral and memorial costs. This grant can be paid directly to a funeral director. If you’ve already paid, ACC can pay you back. ACC also pays a survivor’s grant to those left behind by a death. Spouses and partners can receive a grant, with money also paid to each child under 18 or other dependants. The survivor’s grant does not have to be spent on funeral costs. Learn more about funding through ACC’s website.

HAIR

Mobile Hairdresser in the Hutt Valley: Jenny Gunn: 021 295 6915

HEALTH AND DISABILITY ADVOCACY SERVICE

      • Offers free, independent, and confidential advice and support to help you resolve issues with health and disability services.
        • Any issues with care in hospital, retirement home, GP, Access, Nurse Maude, any medical or health service
Find an advocate now or talk to us on freephone 0800 555 050 (8am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday).

HEARING

Your Way | Kia Roha Hearing Therapy: a free and independent service for NZ citizens and residents over the age of 16 years old.  Services include:
      • Free Hearing Test and Needs Assessment
      • Aural Rehabilitation
      • Consumer and community information and advice
      • Hearing instrument management
      • Tinnitus information and management strategies
      • Enabling people to live well with hearing loss
      • Pre and post cochlear implant support
They have clinics where clients can make an appointment for a hearing therapy session, as well as home visits and remote clinics. Their hearing therapists can also present to community and health groups to share the services we provide. Hearing Therapists:

HOARDING RESOURCES

HOUSE AND GARDEN

      • Green Acres: yard and house maintenance/cleaning: 0800 001 756
https://www.greenacres.co.nz/ https://www.jimsmowing.co.nz/
  • Jim’s Handyman Services (Hennie, qualified builder and does all sorts of things like putting up ramps, sheds, property maintenance, and odd jobs in the Hutt Valley): 0800 454 654
  • Plumber: Jarvis: 04 939 0011

HOUSING AND TENACY ADVICE

KIWI ACCESS CARD

The Kiwi Access Card — formerly known as 18+ card — is a Government recognised form of photographic ID. It can be used as an alternative ID in place of a passport or drivers licence. It is valid for 10 years and is available to both NZ nationals and international visitors who are over the age of 18. You can pick up an application form at a participating NZ Post or AA Centre across New Zealand or apply online here You will need:
      • two identical passport-sized colour photos of yourself taken within the last 12 months.
      • proof of a valid New Zealand address e.g. a statement, letter or bill from a business or organisation. It doesn’t need to have your name on it.
The card costs $60, but if you don’t have a drivers licence or passport it has the potential to make a wide range of day to day transactions a lot easier and more convenient for you.

LEGAL

      • Citizens’ Advice Bureau: 0800 367 222
https://www.cab.org.nz/ https://pkclc.com/  Ph 04 237 6811 Wills: from $200, EPAs: From $200, Trusts: From $1,500 They offer a 10% discount on the total cost of all services,  for Age Concern referrals (Seniority Club Members). *Note that any of the services can cost more than the prices quoted if there is complexity involved – hence the ‘from’ qualification.

MEDICAL

The Karanga Manaaki Service offers free, nurse-led clinics across the Hutt Valley for individuals and whānau (families) that are not enrolled with a medical practice. No self-referrals, but Age Concern can refer people.  or 022 0176 189

MEDICAL ALARMS

      • Freedom Medical Alarm
Tel: 0800 380 280 https://www.freedomalarms.co.nz/

MENTAL HEALTH / COUNSELLING

https://www.dementiawellington.org.nz/

MOBILITY RESOURCES

NEW ZEALAND POLICE

      • 105 for non-urgent welfare checks
      • 111 for emergencies

NZ SUPER

      • 2022 advice: New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension payments are adjusted each year to reflect increases in the cost of living, inflation, and the average wage.
      • In 2023/2024, fortnightly rates increased to:
        • $817.32 each before tax or $712.22 each after ‘M’ tax, for a married couple who both qualify
        • $1076.48 before tax or $925.88 after ‘M’ tax for a single person living alone
        • $990.20 before tax or $854.66 after ‘M’ for a single person sharing accommodation

PHYSICAL HEALTH

https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/services-and-support/health-care- services/healthline A charitable trust offering health and disability information, advice and equipment to enable you to live the life you choose. (Hearing checks and hearing aid support)
      • Karanga Manaaki Service: Hutt Valley health network for those not enrolled with a medical practice.
      • AWHI
Advancing Wellness in Home Initiative, this has been going since 2019. The idea is that the team of OT’s, Physios, nurses, and social workers plus 12 support workers, create a wraparound service for people who could recuperate at home after a hospital admission, AWHI go to multidisciplinary team meetings on the medical, and stroke wards along with teams that support people who have had an accident e.g. fallen and broken a hip. They work in Hutt Hospital, Wellington Hospital and Keneperu Hospital. The medical support is for about 2 weeks, the stroke for about 6 weeks and the ACC contract is for up to 3 months. The support workers are the ones who do the day-to-day care e.g. showering, shopping, medication support, etc.

POWERSWITCH

Consumer’s Powerswitch website lets people compare power and gas prices to make sure they’re getting the best deal. This website is a free service. https://www.powerswitch.org.nz/

RESIDENTIAL CARE & RESIDENTIAL CARE SUBSIDY

      • If you need long-term residential care in a hospital or rest you may eligible to get a residential care subsidy from Te Whatu Ora – Health NZ.
For more information you can go to;
      • govt.nz
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/residential-care-subsidy.html
      • Ministry of Health
https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/long-term-residential-care-for-older-people-feb19.pdf

RETIREMENT

Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission aims to help New Zealanders to retire with confidence. Retiring with confidence means New Zealanders feel secure they’ll have resources to live and the know-how to make ends meet. We focus on three areas: Retirement Income Policies, Retirement Villages and Financial Capability. We raise public understanding and advise Government on policies that will enhance retirement outcomes for New Zealanders We monitor the effects of the retirement villages legal framework We help New Zealanders think long term to improve their financial outcomes and prepare for retirement.

SOCIAL WORKERS

      • Wesley Community Action
      • Wellington City Mission may also have some, but smaller staff team. Reluctant to take new referrals
      • Salvation Army Social Worker in Tawa.
      • Downtown Community Ministries possibly also.

SENIOR LINE

      • Information on how to get help at home, community services and rest homes.
https://www.seniorline.org.nz/ Phone: 0800 725 463

SUPER GOLD CARD

The New Zealand SuperGold Card is a discount and concession card for seniors aged 65 and over. It provides a range of benefits, including:
      • Discounts: Instant discounts and special offers at thousands of businesses across New Zealand and Australia.
      • Public Transport: Free off-peak travel on public transport in many areas.
      • Support Services: Access to various support and services related to finance, health, and housing.
The card is automatically issued to those receiving NZ Superannuation or a Veteran’s Pension when they turn 65. If you’re not receiving these benefits, you can still apply for the card if you meet the age and residency criteria. Click here for more information about SuperGold Card.

TOTAL MOBILITY

      • Assessments with Metlink: 0800 801 700
      • Greater Wellington Regional Council: Replacement cards (lost TM cards) : 04 384 5708

TRANSPORT OPTIONS

      • Driving Miss Daisy
Phone: 0800 948 432 Head Office PO Box 8489 Havelock North 4157 New Zealand Phone: +64 6 877 0363
      • Freedom Companion Driving Services Phone: 0800 333 499
495b Madras Street Saint Albans Christchurch 8014 New Zealand Email: Parking Permits https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/mobility-parking

VACCINATIONS

      • Shingles vaccination only free for people in their 65th year
      • Flu vaccinations (2022): free for over 65s
      • Tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough all free for over 65s
      • Talk to your GP about getting any vaccinations

VOLUNTEER/TIMEBANK

Timebank Wellington Timebank Wellington is a group of people who share their skills. An hour of volunteer work by a member of Timebank earns them one time credit. The credit can be used for one hour of help from another volunteer member with a different set of skills. For example: Jonna volunteers for Age Concern for one hour a week visiting an older person in her area. She earns a time credit which she can use to get help from Tom to mow her lawn.   For more information: https://www.newtowncommunity.org.nz/wellington-timebank Contact: Tel: 04 389 4786

WELL-ABLE

      • Well-Able provides a free and impartial Disability Information and Advisory Service throughout the Wellington region. They also sell disability aids at cost price.
Phone: 04 298 2914 https://www.well-able.org.nz/#

WINTER ENERGY PAYMENT

 

 

Would you like a printable version of this guide? Please email or call 04 499 6646