NEW ZEALAND: Relief for elderly hit by recession

. WELLINGTON, New Zealand / The Manawatu Standard / July 29, 2009 By Laura Jackson, The Manawatu Standard Some elderly too proud to ask for help are switching off heaters and cutting back on food to make ends meet during the bitter chill of the recession. Feilding elderly support staff fear the problem is widespread among the town's more than 700 over-75s, whose income has dropped dramatically after losing money on investments and being stung by lower interest rates on savings accounts. Manchester House Social Services chairman Colin McJannett said they were dealing with a generation that would rather suffer in silence than ask for help. "It's the culture, they feel uncomfortable talking about money and asking for help. "Saving money in an unsafe way is a serious but unseen problem at the moment." Elder support manager Bronwyn Gudopp said many did not realise their income had dropped to a level where they could apply for help from Work and Income, or were eligible for rates rebates. To combat the problem, Manchester House is turning the former Senior Citizen's Hall into a one-stop-shop offering services and information for elderly and a chance for them to swap notes on better ways to beat the recession. "They won't seek help so we are bringing the services to them," Mrs Gudopp said. "We will run around and pick them up." The hall is heated, soup and tea is on offer and newspaper articles will be read out to keep them up-to-date with government schemes like subsidised insulation for housing. Groups like the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind will hopefully move on to the premises and respiratory and exercise programmes will be up and running. "The idea is to keep them independent, but also get them to accept a little bit of help. We want to break the isolation; it takes a lot of courage to ask for help." Marian Birch called in yesterday for a cup of tea and chat with other elderly. "The recession is starting to bite," she said. "But it's not something we talk about." Former Senior Citizens Association president Ron Hart liked the direction the centre was taking. "There will be a lot more services than we had before." BAD SITUATION Grey Power president Wendy Gadd says the situation is just as serious in Palmerston North. "Elderly are missing doctor appointments because they can't afford to go, cutting down on food or going to bed early because it costs too much to keep the heater on." The trouble is people will not ask for help, she said. "People don't talk about it, so we don't know who is suffering. "Because they have managed all their lives, they see it as a weakness to be struggling now." Those who are eligible for extra income through rate rebates or support from work and income often don't realise or do not know how to apply for it, she said.[rc] © 2009 Fairfax New Zealand Limited