Elder Care Canterbury
Working together to integrate and improve health services for the wellbeing of Canterbury’s older people
Welcome, Tena koutou, Talofa Lava, Malo e Lelei, Kia orana kotou katoatoa, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni, Bula Vinaka
Here you will find information about Elder Care Canterbury, an intersectoral and community group that works together for the wellbeing of Canterbury’s older people. You are welcome to contact the co-ordinator if you would like more information, or are interested in contributing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Elder Care Canterbury?
- The History of Elder Care Canterbury
- Elder Care Canterbury Groups
- How is Elder Care Canterbury administered?
- How does Elder Care Canterbury “work together to integrate and improve health services?
What is Elder Care Canterbury?
Elder Care Canterbury is an intersectoral and community group. It is based on the philosophy of being “older person focussed” and working in an inclusive and collaborative way to develop multi-disciplinary multi-sectoral solutions for the provision of existing and new services. Community leadership is a critical factor in ensuring the continuity of Elder Care Canterbury through any political changes to health service delivery.
The History of Elder Care Canterbury
Elder Care Canterbury was established in 1997 as a result of Pegasus Health and geriatricians having concerns over the provision of health services for older people in Canterbury. It has since grown its membership to include groups and individuals from across the health sector and currently has a strong community focus.
Elder Care Canterbury Groups
Three groups operate under the umbrella of ECC:
- Elder Care Canterbury Forum (Forum)
- Reference Group
- Consumer Group
The Forum is open to anyone that is interested in working together to improve health services for Canterbury’s older people. Its membership includes a wide range of interested organisations and individuals.
The Reference Group consists of around 15 members that have a broad understanding of issues facing older consumers and a willingness to work with CDHB and others to implement the DHB's Healthy Ageing Integrated Support Strategy (HAIS), and be involved in forward planning beyond 2010.
The Consumer Group mainly comprises older consumers or their carers, and advocacy organisations e.g. Grey Power, Age Concern.
How is Elder Care Canterbury administered?
From April 2006, ECC is administered by Presbyterian Support Upper South Island (PSUSI) under contract to Canterbury District Health Board’s planning & funding department, which previously administered ECC internally.
How does Elder Care Canterbury “work together to integrate and improve health services?
Elder Care Canterbury is very good example of an intersectoral and community group that works collaboratively to identify, discuss and resolve problems that older people experience when using the health systems.
- The Consumer Group performs an important monitoring role of the health systems as they affect older consumers. It feeds back problems and issues to CDHB and other agencies as appropriate.
- Regular ECC Forums provide representatives from many different agencies an opportunity to learn what is happening in the wider older person’s service sector and within CDHB. Together, they can identify ways to work together for the good of older consumers.
- Elder Care Canterbury has a positive relationship with CDHB, which seeks ECC feedback around policies and issues affecting older people’s health services. Through the Reference Group, CDHB can co-opt ECC members to participate in HAIS projects.
- ECC has strong links with Christchurch City Council (CCC). CCC personnel participate at Forum meetings and Council is represented on the Reference Group.
- Bi-annual fono and hui are jointly organised with CDHB to ensure issues affecting older Pacific and Maori people are heard, and to enable feedback to them
- Rural and other neighbourhood meetings are planned to ensure that issues affecting isolated older consumers are heard, and to enable feedback to them
Contact the co-ordinator
Dianne Smith
Elder Care Canterbury Co-ordinator
Presbyterian Support Upper South Island
P O Box 13171, Christchurch 8031
Phone (DDI): (03) 363 8225
E-mail: dsmith@psusi.org.nz
