Home Support
From the 1st of July 2008 Presbyterian Support South Canterbury added an exciting new layer to its suite of services to the community by introducing a new in-home assistance programme for people recovering from accidents, surgery, short term illness, a disability, age-related condition or for those who just require assistance with daily living tasks.
Entitled Presbyterian Support South Canterbury Home Support, the initiative helps people remain independent in their own homes and builds on Presbyterain Support South Canterbury's district leading in-home service known as Community First, where fully assessed rest home clients choose to receive care - in their own homes. We are the only organisation in our region delivering the Community First Service in South Canterbury.
The new tier of in-home care, Home Support, is a free service to those who qualify and a self funding option is also available.
It was known to many as Nurse Maude, which was founded in Christchurch in 1896 by Nurse Sibylla Maude, on a little more than a desire to bring care to the most vulnerable in the community and a relentless drive to do so.
Nurse Maude expanded its service into South Canterbury 10 years ago and at the time of being acquired by PSSC this week had 175 clients and 56 staff.
Now to be known under the Presbyterian Support banner as Home Support, the service covers mainly Timaru but also the rural areas of Geraldine, Temuka, Fairlie and Winchester.
Presbyterian Support South Canterbury's Chief Executive, Mr Michael Parker said the new tier of in-home care addressed a gap in their suite of services.
"Since the inception of Community First three years ago we were aware that we could give a more complete service to th ecommunity by offering an in-home service at a lower client-qualifying level."
"The difficulty we faced was finding a way to provide that in a market that was already at capacity - there were four in-home support services already operating."
"Fortunately we were able to acquire Nurse Maude and achieve a very beneficial outcome for all." Mr Parker said.
He is delighted that all the former Nurse Maude support workers have joined the PSSC team, which is to be led by a new Community Services Manager, Lizzie McIvor.
He said he did not envisage wide changes to the popular tried and proven Nurse Maude structure - "if it ain't broke, don't fix it, but we're certainly looking at opportunities for further growth".
Contact details:
Home Support Team Leaders (Kylie, Mary or Tracy)
Phone: 03 684 2565 or click here to email them
or Community Services Manager (Lizzie McIvor)
Phone: 03 6881748 or click here to email
