COMMUNITYFIRST
CommunityFIRST is a service for older people who have been assessed as being eligible for rest home care but who would prefer to stay at home. This service allows those who prefer to stay at home to do so as long as possible.
CommunityFIRST…
…is person centred and works with the older person and their whanau/family to come to decisions about issues which are affecting their lives.
…has an emphasis on wellness that is defined as "being able to do the things I want to do." The supports implemented will enable the person to keep learning, participating in and contributing to their community in ways they find enjoyable.
…is rehabilitation focused with an aim of identifying opportunities for improving, or at least maintaining physical and social activity and function, so that life can be lived as fully as possible.
Access to Community FIRST is through Care of the Elderly Social Work/Needs Assessment and Service Coordination at Dunedin Hospital. Phone 476 6004.
CommunityFIRST aims:
- to help older people enhance or maintain their quality of life , in ways which they define as important
- to enable the older person to stay connected to their community
The service works with the older person and the people who are close to them to create supports that will enable the person to remain safely and enjoyably in their own home. These will be flexible and individually tailored to meet each person’s needs, within a budget limit.
Community FIRST has been developed in direct response to key government strategies, which are committed to positive attitudes to ageing and community level health care. The service supports people to live in their own homes and communities with autonomy as they grow older.
To find out more about Community FIRST:
- Contact your Doctor
OR
- Community Needs Assessment Service for referral
476 6004 or 474 0999 ext 7087
OR
- Call Presbyterian Support Otago
Phone 03 477 7115
Real Life Story...
Henry is a 78 year old man who has spent his life as an engineer in many parts of the world. His family are all overseas, so he relies for company on a couple of long-time friends. He has a lovely sunny unit, which he has lived in for 15 years and which he loves. It is compact and easy to care for, and close to shops and friends.
Henry has a bit of short-term memory loss and recently developed problems which have left him with an in-dwelling catheter, which he has found very difficult to learn to manage. This problem led health professionals around him to wonder if he could manage to stay at home, but Henry was finding the thought of going into care very distressing.
Community FIRST introduced a team of people who visit with Henry 4 times a day, to check on the state of the catheter, to ensure Henry’s medication is taken regularly and to keep him company at the same time. Henry has made an especially strong relationship with Daniel, a young male support worker who loves hearing Henry’s tales of his wide experience of the world. It was through the development of this relationship that Henry learnt to manage his catheter in the morning before the Support Worker got there. And it was this learning which has meant that there is no longer any question of Henry going ‘into care.’ He is happy at home and, with the support of Community FIRST, it looks like he will be able to stay there for some time to come.
