Assessment tool helps elderly stay at home

More of Wanganui's elderly are able to live in their own homes longer rather than going to residential care.
This follows the Whanganui District Health Board's (WDHB) decision adopt inteRAI Home Care, a geriatric assessment system.
Andrea Bunn, health of older people senior portfolio manager for the WDHB, said the system were much better than what the board had been using. She said inteRAI Home Care gave the board a reliable, valid assessment of health and support needs.
"In the past, the needs assessment we used was 'homegrown' and inconsistent, at times unreliable and very much dependent on the thoroughness and skill of the assessor," she said.
"Having a tool that's used nationally and internationally, immediately raises the standard of assessment giving older adults and their families confidence their needs are understood."
Research showed the process meant people who wanted to remain in their homes could do so for much longer. It could also identify opportunities to improve health.
"It might identify that a person is visually impaired or requires a handrail on the bath. Once these needs are provided for, that person could remain in their own home."
The Government started rolling out inteRai in 2009 and WDHB began using it this year. Staff had already noticed the improvements.
"In time, information gathered will enable DHBs to improve their long-term planning for the older adult population. This in itself will be hugely valuable for the health sector," Mrs Bunn said.