What can you do for older folk?
Housing, rates affordability, the aged care sector, and a push to become an age-friendly city are hot election topics for seniors, Grey Power Southland office manager Stephnie de Ruyter says.
Grey Power Southland has a membership of about 2500 and de Ruyter said as an advocate for older people she was interested to find out candidates would stand for when the local body elections roll around in October.
Social media was again expected to be a go-to tool for candidates for this year’s local body elections, although de Ruyter acknowledged a large section of seniors did not use social media.
She said it was important to ensure that the older demographic of the community remained engaged with the democratic process.
To help Grey Power will host an Invercargill City Council candidates meeting at 1.30pm on Tuesday, September 17 at Ascot Park Hotel.
A second meeting at the Ascot Park Hotel, for Southern District Health Board candidates, will be held on Friday, September 20.
de Ruyter said there were
‘‘We have a annual membership fee of $18, some of our members have to spread that over a few payments because that’s all they have left over from their pension each fortnight.’’ Grey Power Southland office manager Stephnie de Ruyter
other public candidates meetings held but most were held at night.
Organising meetings during the day would make it more inviting for more seniors to attend and be involved in the local body elections, de Ruyter said.
de Ruyter said Southland had an ageing population and she expected that to continue to be more apparent in the future.
Housing was a particular issue for many seniors de Ruyter said as high demand for housing had been higher rental prices.
Inturn that meant rates affordability also remained important for many seniors.
‘‘We have a annual membership fee of $18, some of our members have to spread that over a few payments because that’s all they have left over from their pension each fortnight,’’ she said.
Age care has been a particular important issue for Grey Power Southland given in May the Royal District Nursing Service cut home support time for elderly in May.
The home-based healthcare provider is contracted by the Southern District Health Board.
It prompted a petition to be started asking for the cuts to be reversed and for a review of the contract with the Royal District Nursing Service.
de Ruyter expected it to be an election issue for SDHB candidates.
She also hoped Invercargill’s elected members would ensure the boxes were ticked in regard to the World Health Organisation’s list of essential features for age-friendly cities.
It included plenty of outdoor spaces and seating where seniors could rest and sufficient number of clean public toilets for older people who are out and about.
Affordable and reliable public transport with good connections was another factor, as well as enough suitable social events and activities for older people.