Dementia support Wairarapa

Dementia affects both intellectual and social ability. If you are worried about your memory you should see your healthcare provider. The Wairarapa region has funded support services for people with dementia and their carers.

How to get help

Dementia is a group of symptoms that affects your intellectual and social ability to the point that it interferes with daily life. It is much more common in older people, but it can affect adults at any age.

Symptoms of dementia (mate wareware) (internal link)

If you are worried about your memory and possible dementia, you should see your healthcare provider. 

There are many causes of memory loss that can be treated, such as:

  • depression
  • stress
  • side effects from your medicines.

 

Support for people with diagnosed dementia

There are a range of funded support services in the Wairarapa region for people with dementia. The aim is to help these people and your carers to live as independently as possible, at home.

Support services in the Wairarapa region are managed by FOCUS. It is best to see your general practitioner first, so they can write a referral. 

FOCUS Needs Assessment Service coordination agency (internal link).

If you have dementia, a coordinator from FOCUS will:

  • talk with you, your carer, whānau and healthcare provider to understand your needs and eligibility for support
  • discuss your concerns and arrange for an assessment to ensure you get the right support for your needs
  • assess what support your whānau can give and what support they might need to be able to help you
  • refer you for specialised assessments from other services if you need them.

The assessment will show:

  • what you can and cannot manage at home
  • the help and support you already have
  • what will improve your quality of life
  • what support the people who care for you need.

Some services, such as household cleaning, are available only to Community Services Card holders.

The Community Services Card (external link)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Wairarapa funds some support services for personal care, including help with personal tasks such as:

  • dressing and undressing
  • showering and bathing
  • personal grooming
  • getting up in the morning
  • getting ready for bed.

There are ways the people who care for you can also be supported, including:

  • carer support — a Carer Support Subsidy funded by the Health New Zealand to help the unpaid, full time carer to take a break from caring
  • respite care, where you take a break in a residential facility
  • day respite, where you spend the day out in a residential facility, going home at night — this is known as 'day care'.

Carer Support Subsidy — Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (external link)

Once your assessment and plan of care have been prepared, a referral is made to private agencies funded by Health New Zealand to provide the support you need.

Even if the assessment finds Health New Zealand is not able to fund services for you, they can direct you to agencies which can the provide services you need at your own cost.

If you need help with things like gardening, contact Work and Income.

Work and Income (external link)

Residential care

Residential care is funded if you need more care than can be provided at home.

Older person support — Short and long term residential care in the Wairarapa (internal link).

A needs assessment process is needed to decide if residential care is right for you. For a needs assessment in the Wairarapa region, contact FOCUS.

Residential care is means and asset tested by Work and Income.

Residential Care Subsidy —  Work and Income (external link).

Information about residential facilities is available at Eldernet.

Residential care — Eldernet (external link)

Local dementia support and information

Dementia support and information is provided by Alzheimers Wairarapa:


General information about health and residential care providers, referrals and services is available at Healthpoint.

Services available in Wairarapa — Healthpoint (external link)

Related websites

Alzheimers New Zealand

Alzheimers New Zealand is the lead organisation at a national level representing people and whānau living with dementia mate wareware.
Dementia New Zealand

Dementia New Zealand has a network of dedicated and skilled practitioners who provide community-based dementia mate wareware services to those living with dementia and their carers and whānau.

Age Concern New Zealand

Age Concern New Zealand is a charity dedicated to people over 65, their friends and whānau. We promote dignity, wellbeing, equity and respect and provide expert information and support services in response to older people's needs.