Grey Power March 2017

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32 NZ GREYPOWER MAGAZINE » MARCH 2017 ADVOCACY REPORT The abridged report of the Grey Power New Zealand Federation The Lobby Team consisted of: T. O’Connor & J. Pentecost (advocacy standing committee co-chairs) accompanied by National Advisory Group chairs, J. Millar who was present at health meetings, R. Reid, present at aged care meetings and P. Matcham, present at discussions involving local bodies and housing. MEETING WITH THE HON ANNETTE KING: The meeting discussed the Aged Care Report. In 2010, the Green Party, the Labour Party and Grey Power investigated the treatment of older people in New Zealand; Green MP Sue Kedgley and Labour MP Winnie Laban travelled around Grey Power meetings talking to people in their homes and communities about the quality of care they receive. The investigation found there were deep-seated problems in the aged care sector in New Zealand, e.g. chronic staff shortages, low wages, a lack of training and extremely high staff turnover which had negative effects on the quality of care our elderly receive. The Health and Disability Commissioner, the Auditor-General and others who have investigated the sector have also found that many residents do not receive an appropriate standard of care. (See more at https://home.greens.org. nz/agedcare#sthash.MjSI6o0p.dpuf) There were a number of recommendations arising from the 2010 investigation and Labour/Greens intend to check progress on these; Grey Power will assist by setting up meetings between members and Labour/Greens MEETING WITH S. CLARE – CEO - AGE CONCERN: The visit’s purpose was for the newly elected Grey Power president and the recently appointed CEO of Age Concern to meet and also to ask the latter’s opinion/ information on the possible funding for elder abuse victims as an extension of Child, Youth & Family funding. Zone Six have informed that when an older person who is being abused requires to be removed from the family home there is currently no government funding available however children in similar situations are covered by Child, Youth and Family. There also appears to be a need for emergency housing, perhaps a safe house, and some financial support for older victims of physical and or sexual abuse. M/s Clare undertook to consider this; she will also look at the rights of older persons and was in favour of a national strategy because funding allocation for this type of service varies across District Health Boards. Grey Power will also speak to the Minister of Senior Citizens. BANKING/POST FACILITIES FOR SMALL- ER COMMUNITIES Meeting with Tracey Berry at KiwiBank - The meeting’s purpose was to discuss the issue of banking facilities in small communities Grey Power’s stance is to ensure, to the best of its ability, that older people are not disadvantaged by digital technology/cost cutting resulting in the loss of facilities. Many older people in small communities are being affected because the expectation is that banking transactions can occur via the internet. However, many older people do not or cannot use the internet: New Zealand statistics indicate “… 61% of individuals aged 65-74 years, and 32% of individuals aged 75 and over have used the internet in the last 12 months compared with over 90% in the 15-24, 25-34, and 35-44-year age groups. While the internet may no longer be considered a new technology, it is playing an increasingly central role in society and the economy, and older people’s lower levels of internet use or non-use are a source of concern.’ (Statistics New Zealand, 2013, Household Use of ICT Data Table 2b quoted in ‘Participation in the digital age,’ ‘Making active ageing a reality - maximising participation and contribution by older people.’ 2014; Report to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Contract no. UOWX1201- authors: Peggy Koopman-Boyden, Michael P. Cameron, Judith Davey, Margaret Richardson) Other problems are: - Some rural areas only have intermittent cell phone or internet coverage or no coverage at all - Travel to the nearest bank may be beyond the income or driving capabil- Continued on page 33 Your time is now! Visit superseniors.msd.govt.nz and sign up for the SuperSeniors newsletter for regular news, information and offers for seniors and SuperGold Cardholders. We’re also on Facebook - join our community www.facebook.com/OfficeforSeniors Credit: Jamie Troughton, DScribe Media Keeping informed and in touch There are a variety of ways to keep up to date with seniors’ issues and news. The SuperSeniors website (superseniors.msd.govt.nz) is a gateway to information specifically tailored to be useful and relevant for seniors. Alongside New Zealand stories about older people ageing actively and positively, there is information on planning for the future and local services available to seniors. Six times a year we publish the SuperSeniors e-newsletter. The newsletter features useful information, including original articles for and about seniors, and offers practical SuperGold Card discounts across a range of health and wellbeing categories. If you don’t already receive the SuperSeniors newsletter and wish to, signing up is easy. To receive the newsletter by email, please sign up on the SuperSeniors website superseniors.msd.govt.nz. At the bottom of the home page is a link to click on to subscribe. You don’t have to be over 65 to receive the newsletter. In fact many family members receive the newsletter on behalf of older relatives who may not have easy access to the internet. Past editions are on the website. Hard copies of the Super Seniors newsletter are available from all Work and Income offices, Citizens Advice Bureaux and Grey Power branches. For those that like Facebook, there is the SuperSeniors Facebook page (facebook.com/OfficeforSeniors). With more Advertorial than 8,250 followers we have created an online community of seniors who join in discussions on a range of issues. If you follow the page you will receive regular news links and information relating to older people and ageing. It is an excellent way to keep up to date with national and international news, local services and offers - and to simply connect with others. Finally, if you need to tell the Ministry of Social Development about any changes to your details, MyMSD is the easy way to keep in touch. You can use MyMSD to check and update your contact details, view letters, check your payment details, apply for some types of assistance and more. You can use MyMSD on a smartphone, tablet or computer. It’s quick and easy to use and saves you having to wait on the phone or travel to see us. Updating a phone number or email address can be done in seconds. You can register as a MyMSD user at my.msd. govt.nz. All you need to get started is your client number. We want New Zealand’s seniors to have access to information on issues that affect them and the support and services offered in their communities. We look forward to keeping in touch.
NZ GREYPOWER MAGAZINE » MARCH 2017 33 ADVOCACY REPORT From page 32 ity of older people (RNZ, Elderly Face 180km journey if bank closes, August 26th 2016) NB: The Kiwi Bank website banner states: “Our name says it all. We're a bank made for New Zealanders, by New Zealanders. Helping Kiwis achieve financial independence is what we do.” Grey Power asked: Q. Is there the commercial possibility that, as other banks leave town, Kiwi Bank could pick up the customers’ other banks abandon? A. KiwiBank would look at areas where other banks are leaving and they will look at which service they could provide. Q. Does KiwiBank have a moral obligation to provide banks/postal services in small towns? A. Franchisees require the business to be economically viable Q. How do individuals and organisations open accounts etc. if there are no banks available? A. Assuming, they can’t go in store, or the store they have access to is transaction only and can’t open investment accounts, and assuming they don’t have online access, the only other option available to them is to call up. We do have a join team and that is an option. We will look at the feasibility of providing a mobile service if there are a number of people who want to start an account etc. Q. Re business arising from previous lobby visits = a form which Grey Power can distribute to members and intending members which would ensure that when they open a KiwiBank account, that account is flagged to guarantee Grey Power receives its commission. A. We are looking at forms for this purpose Grey Power’s gain = the information that KiwiBank would investigate the feasibility of a periodic mobile service to centres which had lost banking facilities and that it was considering producing a form to ensure that all Grey Power members KiwiBank accounts were flagged MEETING WITH PAUL HODGESON AT NZ POST – the meeting discussed the problem of non-payment of accounts by due dates because of reduced mail deliveries and the reasons why some street post boxes been removed. Members have contacted Grey Power with stories of insufficient time to pay accounts received via post by a due date and also a significant number of members are concerned about the removal of street post boxes Paul explained that NZ Post’s standards are a 2-3-day outward letter delivery service from retailer to residence and the same inwards to retailer etc. but sometimes mail can be held up if another delivery service is utilised by retailers or customers. The rationale for post box removal is lack of use which means they are not cost effective and NZ Post has to be self-funded. Grey Power gained an explanation of the necessity of cost effectiveness for NZ Post in an era of reducing mail volumes HEALTH MEETING WITH HON DR J COLEMAN - The meeting discussed delayed access to elective surgery in the public health system Grey Power’s policy goal is to advocate for improved early access to elective surgery through demonstration of a positive benefit / cost ratio. The Minister of Health’s statements re problems with elective surgery is that the Government has put many extra dollars into health across the board and that this is reducing elective surgery and diagnostic tests waiting time. However, various research projects have found this is not so – see I. Powell, Time for honesty and investment approach to health funding, nzDoctor.co.nz 17 August 2016 and Bill Rosenberg’s analysis of the 2015 health budget ‘NZ’s health system $1 billion worse off than six years ago; $220 per Kiwi’ in a NZCTU media release 8 June 2015. Powell, also informs that successive governments have claimed that the cost CALL TOLL FREE 0508 235 800 + FREE DELIvERY OvERNIghT For orders over $60 ($7 postage & handling for orders under $60) BROThER INkjET LC47 LC37/57 LC38/67 LC39 PRICE QTY 7.50 7.50 8.00 8.00 ORDER NOW! CALL TOLL FREE 0508 235 800 MAIL • PHONE • ONLINE Mail: Wholesale Toners NZ LTD, PO Box 39777, Howick, Auckland Website: www.wholesaletoner.co.nz Email: sales@wholesaletoner.co.nz TOTAL PAYABLE $___________ Add $7 Postage & Handling [ for orders under $60. Code YE4] I enclose my cheque/money order for $_______ made payable to Wholesale Toners NZ LTD or please charge my credit card. Visa MasterCard (please tick) Card No. Exp. 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Priority scores which are the deciding factor for public hospital treatment are arrived at through answering questions about “the impact of a patient’s medical + WIN A $50.00 gROCERY vOuChER Drawn at the end of each month LC73/75/77 XL LC133 LC137XL/135XL issues on their life (need) and the likelihood that this impact can be reversed or improved (benefit).” And although need and benefit underlie the criteria, its consistency, fairness and equity have been questioned in the Auditor- General’s 2013 progress report, even though the New Zealand Health Strategy (p.21; 2000) set out objectives which included national equity of access to elective services Of note, Grey Power’s 2015 submis- ORDER FROM ThIs ADvERT AND gO IN ThE DRAW TO PRICE QTY 8.00 8.00 9.00 B_____C_____M_____Y____ B_____C_____M_____Y____ B_____C_____M_____Y____ HP 564XL Black $14.00 ea ............ HP 564XL Cyan $14.00 ea ............ HP 564XL Magenta $14.00 ea ............ HP 564XL Yellow $14.00 ea ............ 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Grey Power March 2017

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