Hamilton Grey Power March 2018

Introducing Hon Tracey Martin
Over the Christmas period covering January
Tracey has been busy as she has written below.
Last Month (January) I travelled
from Auckland to
Rotorua to visit a couple
of facilities that I have interest
in as, in the first instance, the
Minister for Seniors and, in the
second instance, Minister for
children.
Both of these visits were to
Kiwis who did not really want
to be there and both involved
meeting amazing New Zealanders
who were supporting,
with care, those individuals.
The first facility I visited was
The CARE Village at Ngongotaha.
The village is a community
owned, not for profit
charitable trust that opened in
September 2017 and provided
aged residential care with a
difference.
Its vision is to create a lifestyle
that gives people with
dementia as normal a life as
• $48 Adult • $45 Gold card • $38 Child
Ear Hygiene
Discharging Ears
Removal of wax by micro-suction
For appointments
0800 327 435
www.earhealth.co.nz
Clinics in Hamilton, Matamata, Morrinsville,
Putaruru, Te Aroha and Tokoroa
Discount for ACC approved patients
The Political Agenda for Seniors – As Minister for Seniors my
role is to advocate for seniors. We have older New Zealanders
living in poverty who need affordable housing.
I want to keep that at the forefront of politicians’ minds. In the
short term we’ve made a commitment to further enhancing the
Super Gold Card and will be introducing a free annual health
check and eye check for over 65’s.
I also intend to make sure seniors are clearly identified as one
of the recipients of the winter energy packet. My family is part
Pakeha and part Maori and the connection to older people is
extremely important to me.
Tracey Martin
possible and provides an opportunity
for them not only to
exist, but thrive.
Based on the Dutch dementia
village De Hogeweyk. The
CARE village is designed to
give people with dementia the
opportunity to go about their
normal lives.
It replicates a small scale
New Zealand town with 13
single level six and seven bedroom
houses, each staffed by
an individual caregiver.
Each household looks and
functions as a typical home,
reflecting research that shows
people with dementia are
much happier when they live in
an environment they can recognise
as home.
My grandfather suffered
from dementia and at one
stage was placed in a locked
hospital ward.
Visiting him was distressing,
both for him and us. The
ward he was in was not only
for those with dementia but
also catered for other mental
illnesses.
The level of stress on the patients,
the staff and those visiting
was obvious. The feeling of
those visits has stayed with me
for a long time my grandfather
passed away in February 2000.
What a difference it was to
visit The CARE village, to pop in
to the “homes” where smoked
fish pie was being prepared for
lunch in one while bacon and
egg pie was almost ready in
another.
The atmosphere was calm
and the residents able to potter
around in the garden,
plant flowers, even build a
few paths. According to the
managers, medications have
dropped along with stress levels
for all.
The village is a three year pilot
scheme that operates with
support from the Ministry of
Health.
The Dementia Economic Impact
Report 2016 tells us that
approximately 62,287 New
Zealanders are currently living
with dementia, with 13,819 in
residential care.
The prevalence of dementia
is estimated to grow to
170,212 by 2050, with an estimated
37,446 places being
required in aged residential
care.
This pilot gives us an opportunity
to evaluate the positive
or negative effects this change
of model could have for those
Kiwis, and judge its affordability
and long term sustainability.
The second facility I visited
was also a secure facility but at
the other end of the spectrum.
Te Maioha o Parekarangi
Residence is a Youth Justice
Residential Centre that was
officially opened in 2010. The
residence currently provides
secure facilities for up to 30
young men aged 13 to 17
years, 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week.
I was met with a rousing
haka by the young men, followed
by a haka powhiri. After
the formalities two of the
current residents took me on a
guided tour of the facility.
They were respectful, engaging
and polite. Hopeful
for their futures, both had
achieved some NCEA credits
and won scholarships to do
further study on their departure
from the residence.
A great lunch was put on
with one of my young tour
guides being kind enough
to finish the other half of my
steamed pudding. I enjoyed
myself.
Both of these visits reinforced
in me that those involved
in both facilities do their
best because they want the
best for those in care and that
everyone needs to be cared for
sometimes.
8 Hamilton greypower Magazine | March 2018