Lack of elderly dementia care: It's not good enough!

Few could imagine the difficulties of trying to care for a loved one who is suffering from dementia.
In most instances they require fulltime attention. Their behaviour can range from docile to violent and mood swings are unpredictable.
Whanganui District Health Board provided care for these elderly mentally ill patients at Jubilee Hospital in Aramoho but when that hospital closed in late 2003 patients had to be cared for in specialist centres including those in New Plymouth and Wellington.
The health board put forward a case for a 16-bed psychogeriatric unit in the city but that request was turned down by the Health Ministry.
The health bureaucrats think they have a better plan. Those needing this constant care will have to go to a regional centre in Levin to receive it.
For the relatives, this creates a whole new set of problems. It involves a trip of more than an hour to get to Levin. Then there is the matter of transportation.
Imagine the difficulties this creates for someone who can't drive.
Accordingly the Wanganui Alzheimer's Society ? one of those groups working in the frontline of elderly dementia ? wants a meeting with Whanganui MP Jill Pettis as a first step to get the services they say the city needs and deserves.
Can the society make some headway when the health board tried but had its request dismissed?
Well, the community can lend its weight to the call for a facility to be based here. The operating costs are not excessive and at a time when the Government is crowing about billion dollar surpluses, a mere pinprick in the health budget.
So what can you do? For starters, turn to Page 2 of today's Chronicle and fill out the reader poll coupon. The coupon will be published in the following days as well.
If you have a comment to make, write to the editor, Box 433, Wanganui or email your thoughts to news@wanganuichronicle.co.nz.