“We are asking the local community to support us in our forthcoming fundraisers”.
Alzheimers Gisborne-Tairawhiti will shortly launch what is hoped will be their major fundraiser — a charity gala dinner at The Vines on September 2.
Ms Robinson said the newly confirmed Te Whatu Ora funding was sufficient to support 18 clients three days a week.
“We have 60 people with dementia on our books and the number is growing.”
Total contacts were close to 140 a year.
Ms Robinson said there were 22 clients in the Sherwood Club day facility which usually operates three days a week.
It was the only part of their operations which was close to being fully funded.
There were 50 community clients, 15 carer support group members and 50 other people who were family members of those affected by dementia.
“We also have about four new general inquiries a week.”
Ms Robinson said there was sufficient demand for the Sherwood Club to operate five days a week, but it was only funded for three.
Alzheimers Gisborne-Tairāwhiti can only afford to pay their workers slightly above the living wage so is consequently finding it difficult to recruit new staff.
The organisation presents up to four education workshops a year and backs a monthly career support group.
But total funding for those activities is only $50 a month.
There is no funding for a dementia navigator and none for a community assessor or for the manager.
“But the task to employ a dementia navigator will continue.
“Until we find that special person the small team will operate together to make it work.”
Ms Robinson said 70,000 Kiwis had dementia and one in four were affected by dementia.
That meant a quarter of the population had dementia or knew someone with dementia.
There were an estimated 590 people with dementia (PWD) in Gisborne and that was expected to increase to 1900 PWD in 2050 and to 170,000 people across the nation.
Ms Robinson lamented that dementia did not have the profile of cancer, heart disease, palliative care or rescue helicopters.
But the rate of dementia diagnosis would outnumber those affected by heart disease by 2050.
Ms Robinson said other disadvantages for those working in the Alzheimers field was the knowledge that people did not recover from dementia although Alzheimers Gisborne-Tairawhiti could provide an improved quality of life for those with the disease.
Asked why the organisation struggled to raise funds, Ms Robinson said that many younger people preferred not to think about dementia, while those with the disease could not take part in fundraising activities and caregivers, who live with excessive stress, struggle to do so.
Ms Robinson said Alzheimers Gisborne-Tairawhiti was also disadvantaged by the “post code” nature of health funding.
For example,, it was much easier to gain government funding in Tauranga.
Ms Robinson hopes the Gisborne community will get behind the vital work of Alzheimers Gisborne-Tairawhiti.
“We are extremely grateful to all the people who have shown support through donations and membership subscriptions and those who have responded to the May article in the Gisborne Herald with their words of encouragement.”
The charity gala dinner on September 2 will include a cocktail hour with canapes, a complimentary drink, followed by a plated main course and dessert table with auctions.
Sponsors and high-profile speakers are being approached.
