Tauranga elderly struggle with Census changes

Tauranga and Western Bay Greypower president Jennifer Custins said the initial Census letter was not clear enough and neither were the television ads. Photo / File

Two million people have completed the 2018 Census as of this evening, but those working with the elderly in the Bay say improvements need to be made so people of all ages can easily take part.

Anna Gildenhuys, business and care manager of Tauranga's Elmswood and Melrose Village, said there needed to be a team to assist the elderly to complete the forms.

Hard copy Census forms were being sent to the retirement village for the residents to fill in, she said, but by this evening those had not arrived yet.

"We are planning to assist all our care facility residents with completing the Census as soon as the forms arrive."

Gildenhuys said family members would also help if they were around.

"Elmswood is a dementia unit, so the family/staff will complete on their behalf."

Care facility residents would not manage to complete it by themselves, "we have to assist".

Tauranga and Western Bay Greypower president Jennifer Custins said the initial Census letter about the option of getting sent a hard copy was not clear.

It left people confused, she said, and so did the television ads.

"I know they were trying to encourage people to use the computer/online version, but the very people who weren't going to be able to do that were the more frail, less well-sighted, and it should have been much bolder and clearer. That would have taken the anxiety away."

Custins said older people preferred written material for important information and completing the Census online was a significant change.

However, she did know of several people in their mid-to-late 80s who had happily filled out the Census online.

Tauranga Age Concern general manager Tanya Smith said the organisation had received a couple of calls from retirement village residents who had not received their Census papers.

A Tauranga City Council spokeswoman said the city's libraries had some Census queries and had given help to approximately a dozen people of different age groups.

Denise McGregor, 2018 Census general manager, said there was support and help available to do the Census online or on paper and anyone who needed help could ring 0800 CENSUS (0800 236 787).

She said the staff were also producing material in accessible formats and were working with different organisations to provide support resources.

"If anyone is not that comfortable with using a computer, Stats NZ is partnering with SeniorNet to help people over 50 to complete the Census online. Drop in and use their computers to access the Census form with the help of SeniorNet staff."

McGregor said Stats NZ has also worked with several stakeholder groups to raise awareness of the Census and the support resources produced, including providing a call-back service for members of the Blind Foundation.

"Our field teams will also be able to support anyone who hasn't been able to complete their Census when they start visiting households in mid-March."

She said there had already been a lot of online responses from people over 65.

The highest response rates online had been from people aged 45-69, and the response rate for people in their 70s was also good.

"…though it does tail off for people in their 80s and beyond," McGregor said.

She said there has always been the option to ask for a paper form and fill it out in the traditional way and it was okay to complete it after Census day.

"We know that some older people have struggled to fill in the form online."