Ageing in Place framework for Kawerau
15 May 2015
A GROUP building an organisation to help elderly and disabled Kawerau residents remain in their own homes has begun presenting its vision to the community.
Kawerau and District Ageing in Place began two years ago under the original title, Kawerau Virtual Retirement Village.
The group presented its plan to Kawerau District Council during a regulatory and services committee meeting on May 12 as part of meetings with potential stakeholders.
Spokesman Doug Bull told the meeting KADAIP’s object was to enable older and disabled people to remain living in their own homes as long as possible with security and dignity.
He said the Kawerau community, like others around New Zealand, had a problem with ageing and for many, moving to a retirement village was not the answer.
Instead, organisation members would pay a fee that provided them with vetted services. These would include cleaning services and property maintenance to enable them to remain in their homes.
He also appealed to the council for future financial support and involvement, including placing a councillor on the organisation’s board.
The Kawerau Enterprise Agency also supports the scheme.
Executive director Helen Stewart said similar organisations were created in Japan and at Beacon Hill in Boston, but KADAIP was the first of its kind in New Zealand.
The original organisation was intended to use a co-operative model, however, this posed a number of tax issues and prevented applications for grants.
Instead, the organisation would be listed as a charity.
Ms Stewart said organisers were hoping to have the scheme running in the next six months and were presenting the group’s vision to a number of stakeholders around the Eastern Bay.
The group would meet with the Kawerau community on June 4 to present the vision and consult with residents about what they wanted from the scheme.