Something has to be done about the lack of a psychogeriatric facility in the region, Wanganui Alzheimer's Society president Margaret Campion says, and it's about to begin. The society has decided to organise a meeting with Whanganui MP Jill Pettis, as a first step. The region has lacked a specialised psychogeriatric unitsince late 2003, when Jubilee Hospital closed. And Mrs Campion said the number of beds available for people with dementia was also inadequate, as were the possibilities for respite care. She felt powerless in the face of the Health Ministry's decision that psychogeriatric care should be provided at a wider regional level. This was followed by MidCentral District Health Board's decision that it would be provided in Levin, a one and a-quarter hour drive from Wanganui. The travel would be difficult for older people who were stressed or tired, and there was no indication that a travel allowance would be provided. "I feel so inadequate and I don't know what to do, but we can't sit back and do nothing," she said. She believed there would be enough demand within Whanganui District Health Board's region to fill the combined 10-bed dementia unit and six-bed psychogeriatric unit the board had originally suggested. The Health Ministry has said it will not fund this. The lack of local care options meant people would be more likely to care for their relatives at home, she said, with possible danger to themselves as a result. And it flew in the face of Government's emphasis on "ageing in place" ? allowing older people to stay in their communities as long as possible. "Even when they get to the point where they need care they should still be as close as possible." Other goals of the Positive Ageing Strategy were to improve the quality and safety of care and to involve the families of people with dementia in planning their care. Mrs Campion said Wanganui families had no options to consider when deciding on care. "For the Government to not provide sufficient funding for adequate dementia beds and a specialized psychogeriatric facility in the city is short sighted indeed. "Wanganui has yet again been short changed."
