Buller Older Persons’ Health future explored

Buller Older Persons’ Health future explored

A public meeting run by the West Coast District Health Board at the NBS Theatre in Westport today kicked off a conversation with the Buller community about older persons' health services.

The Buller Older Persons’ Health conversation includes the question of aged residential care services, but addresses the wider question of how the community and DHB might best plan ahead to meet the needs of the older population in Buller into the future.

West Coast District Health Board Chief Executive David Meates says community input is paramount.

“This conversation needs to include the views of older people, their caregivers and families, community members with an interest in older persons’ health – be it now or in the future, our staff, and related health professionals in the Buller health and community services.

“We need to think about how we can work together to get the best out of our Buller health system to support older people and those, such as spouses and grown children, who care for them. It’s extremely important that older people have timely access to the range of targeted services that they might need, services that support them to remain well, able and independent, and services which support them to stay socially connected,” Mr Meates says.

The background, factors to consider, questions the community might be interested in, and ways to give us input are available on our website www.westcoastdhb.health.nz.

Here are some ways people can have their say:
• Come to the public meetings – the first was held today, Friday 1 August 2014. There will be further meetings in early-mid September and late October
• Put your name forward for the Stakeholder Group
• Participate in the upcoming online survey
• Fill in a postcard – you can pick one up from Buller Health facilities, or at supermarkets and retailers in Westport
• Email your thoughts to bulleroph@westcoastdhb.health.nz
• Phone your ideas to: 0800 789 001

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