Respite Care Available

Respite Care Available

A small temporary respite care facility for older or disabled people has been established by the Canterbury District Health Board.

People can be referred to the facility, based at The Princess Margaret Hospital, through their General Practitioners.

“We are working with the aged residential care providers to best allocate respite care in this unit or elsewhere,” says Canterbury District Health Board’s Director of Allied Health Stella Ward.

“We want people who require some nursing care, but are relatively independent and mobile, to have somewhere to go for a short time.”

The unit has 20 beds and patients can stay up to seven nights.

“All the older people currently in the facility have come from their own homes so their carers can have a break,” says Stella Ward.

“Many of these carers have been managing very well up to now and this temporary respite care gives them a chance to look after themselves for a change.”

In the eastern suburbs of Christchurch, 3000 homes are being visited and we are ensuring we have plans in place if vulnerable or frail elderly people are found who may need care and support.

ENDS

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