Services:

• Family Works Northern
• Enliven Positive Ageing Services (formerly Homecare)
• Coactive Collaborative Disability Services
• Budgeting and Money Management Service
• Older Persons Advocacy and Liaison Service
• Connecting with Parishes
• Presbyterian Opportunity Shoppe
• The Foodbank at St David's

Older Persons Advocacy and Liaison Service

The Older Persons Advocacy and Liaison Service (OPALS), based in Mt Maunganui, is a free  social service focused on elder abuse and neglect awareness, prevention and intervention.

Elder abuse and neglect is a single or repeated act, or a lack of appropriate action, which causes hardship or distress to an older person.  Abuse can be of various forms: physical, psychological/emotional, sexual or financial/material abuse.  Neglect is essentially the intentional or unintentional failure to provide necessary food, shelter, clothing or medical or other care. 

The OPALS Co-ordinator works with older people and their families, carers and health and social services professionals - providing information and advice about elder abuse and neglect prevention and intervention.

This includes educating people about elder abuse and neglect, and providing confidential advice, information, referrals and advocacy if required. 

For more information phone 07 574 2372 or email opals@psn.org.nz