Call for special dementia unit

A CALL has been made on the eve of Alzheimer's Awareness Week for a secure psycho-geriatric unit in Wairarapa.
Liz Garden, Alzheimer's Wairarapa community co-ordinator, said there are now 38 beds available at the only secure dementia care facility in Wairarapa ? Henley Care Centre ? and a single visiting psychologist, Anthony Duncan, who makes monthly rounds of rest homes and private residences in the region.
"But there is no unit for the older person with very severe behavioural or other problems that are not manageable in a dementia unit," she said.
"The closest psycho-geriatric unit for Wairarapa people in need is at Manor Park (in Upper Hutt) and this makes things difficult for families making visits.
"There is a big need for some help in Wairarapa and a psycho-geriatric unit that can handle the sorts of problems that lay outside our scope right now.
Mrs Garden said dementia and psycho-geriatric illnesses are by nature "hidden" as many older people live alone and the progression of these diseases remains behind closed doors and often unknown to even the family.
"It's only when a neighbour or member of the public witnesses odd or inappropriate behaviour that the illness comes to light," she said.
The Accredited Visiting Service has volunteer Wairarapa members visiting as companions for an hour a week with the elderly "who are socially isolated", she said, and any developing instances of dementia may be caught early during regular contact.
"I have nearly 90 clients in my workload ? each with dementia ? and we have the second to highest aging population in New Zealand so statistically, and in reality, this will become a greater problem as each year passes."
She said that Henley Care Centre opened in 2003 as a secure unit at the corner of Te Ore Ore and Colombo roads in Masterton and is categorised as a Stage 3 rest home.
People in the region needing similar care before 2003 were housed in the Cunningham Wing at the Kandahar Elderly Care home in Roberts Road, she said.
Presbyterian Support Central administers the newer facility from the Kandahar home, which now offers non-dependent attached care, day and residential care, respite and hospital care.
Alzheimer's Awareness Week next week comes after a very successful art auction organised by Alzheimer's Wairarapa last year that raised $10,000 for "the express purpose" of creating a day centre for Wairarapa people suffering through the early stages of dementia, Mrs Garden said.
"The community very generously bid for the items on auction. Their enthusiasm for the cause gave us a tremendous boost as well as the recognition of the need for this service.
Mrs Garden said the activity programme is now operating one day a week at the Masonic Village in Masterton and that Red Cross and the Wairarapa Organisation for Older Persons have offered transport for those sufferers living outside of Masterton.
"We plan this service to cover not only Masterton but the whole of Wairarapa as well. And eventually our aim is to offer the programme five days a week."
The day activity centre has been called the Iona Group, Mrs Garden said, after the retreat in Scotland famed for those seeking comfort and quiet.