The following contributions are from the participants who attended the Hamilton Community forum on Saturday 29 August 2009.

• Aging Population Workshop
• Association Handbook Workshop

Aging Population Workshop

1. How we can influence future planning?

• Identify people who can help
• Planning:
  • Where are we now
  • What needs to change
  • How
  • What is first steps
• Funding/housing
• Out model planning to keep where we are
• What is wanted?
• Planning is person cantered
• Age within a structure that recognises disability
• Change happens at different rates/time
• Use Association
  • Empower
  • Educate
• Partnerships staff members/other agencies
• Engage with PHO’s
• Age concern- intergenerational
• Knowledge is power
• Need general and special knowledge i.e. Age concern/Rest homes/Alzheimer’s
• Need plans that have time limits i.e. 5 years

2. What could a great ‘every day’ look like?

• Happy sunny day
• Variety - no day the same
• Reason to get out of bed
• Going out
• Visiting  people
• Shopping
• Exercise
• Going to church
• Friends and getting together
• Go to work (RSA)
• Household duties
• Warm comfortable and safe environment
• Choice of activities
• Outdoor space
• Gardening
• Art display
• Morning  tea in sun
• Computers
• Entertainment
• Outside visitors
• Leisurely start to day
• Care in craft
• Regular holidays
• Visiting friends in other homes
• Utilise existing homes for holidays

Who:

• Idea Services, Specialised staff with health qualifications
• Friends and family
• Volunteers
• Specialist Health professionals
• End of life care
• Support staff services users re: grief
• Staff training
• Good role models
• Special equipment

How will we understand and respond to changing health needs?

• Individuals ability to articulate health needs/symptoms
• Are reporting structures in place to follow up on needs/symptoms
• May need more regular health checks and supporters who know them well
• Need to ensure aging is a positive experience/keep positive
• Keep focus away from ill health
• Ensure medical professionals are well educated/trained
• Families/parents/siblings to talk to GP’s honestly openly – issues managed together
• IHC should prioritise 5 target key areas to address first
• Additional staff training/awareness to recognise more complex needs
• Consider that diet needs may change
• Listen and respond to people who are able to articulate
• Support people to take more responsibilities for their own health education
• More and more end of life care and impact on staff and families individuals
• Use peers to share information about ageing and the implications
• We need an organisational tree as part of the manual.
• Identify who Associations contact for support – nationally/locally.
• Send out updates of membership lists to Associations three times a year.
• Help Associations to understand their financial information.
• More regular contact from Wellington.
• More focus on getting membership and mailing lists up to date.
• Need to look at reviewing membership to include family membership.
• Information on the process to run local AGM’s.
• One page visual diagrams about how to run the AGM.
• Information on people/positions/areas of expertise to attend their AGM.

Association Handbook Workshop

What Assistance/Help do Associations Need?

• We need an organisational tree as part of the manual.
• Identify who Associations contact for support – nationally/locally.
• Send out updates of membership lists to Associations three times a year.
• Help Associations to understand their financial information.
• More regular contact from Wellington.
• More focus on getting membership and mailing lists up to date.
• Need to look at reviewing membership to include family membership.
• Information on the process to run local AGM’s.
• One page visual diagrams about how to run the AGM.
• Information on people/positions/areas of expertise to attend their AGM.

What Activities and Ideas are Working Well for Associations?

• Float in the local Christmas Parade thanking community.
• Dances for service users.
• Enhanced AGM meal, staff awards, invited guests, volunteer awards.
• Partner/work with local organisations e.g. Lions Club.
• Have meetings every second month to suit members.
• Have panel discussions.
• A new Association has formed in Lakeland.
• Regular parents group/luncheons with speaker.
• Focus on providing extra ‘things’ for service users.
• Supporting Self Advocates to participate in meetings is rewarding.
• Negotiate a flexible arrangement for Area Managers to attend meetings.
• Street raffle to coincide with the time of the National Appeal – includes publicity display boards.
• Opportunity Shop for a week – encouraging people from Achievaz to be involved.
• Providing guest speakers – to Community Groups, Health and Welfare organisations, school groups, Bride of the Year.
• Stand at Health Expo.
• Representative on Community Council of Social Service.
• Strong partnership built up with local service organisations – Lions, Rotary.
• Christmas Sock Project, providing funds for special educational visits, gifts, luncheon, easter buns.
• Acknowledgement of staff through awards at AGM – long service, tertiary study.
• Golf tournament – showcase past achievements – outline of upcoming projects
• Free publicity provided by local Community Newspapers who willingly attend local events.
• Contact with individuals and other community groups through wide distribution of Association newsletters.
• Free delivery of Family Care magazine to families.
• Funding through Life Style Plus of items that will enhance the quality of life for people.
• Providing opportunities for integrated social activities – Dance Party.
• Coffee mornings for young families.
• Enhanced AGM with good food and entertainment.
• Open meetings featuring guest speakers of interest to all families.
• Encouraging service users to be an integral part of all activities.
• Working in partnership with IDEA Services to support their initiatives
• Actively working to enhance local services – both residential – purpose built homes and vocational – computer assister learning.
• Ensuring that community partnerships built up through the years are maintained and enhanced – for over 40 years.
• Developing links with schools, SES through the dissemination of resources from IHC Programmes.