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Home & community

Home & community

The majority of older New Zealanders are happy living at home and just need a bit of extra support now and again. There are plenty of services designed to keep you living well in your own home, including home support assistance (such as home help and personal care) and respite or short term care. Staying connected with your community is particularly important for older people living at home – whether that’s knowing where to go when you’re feeling unwell, looking out for your neighbours, or volunteering. You’ll also find a range of driving and transport options available throughout New Zealand to help you maintain your independence, as well as information about housing options available in your region.

Local community

Home & community
How I can feel part of my new community?

I’m new to the district and am finding it hard to feel like I belong. I find it’s not easy to make friends these days which doesn’t help. Have you got any ideas? We call the places where people can meet up easily and naturally, 'bumping places'. Examples of bumping...

Home & community
How supporting local businesses benefit us.

If you support businesses in your local area: and if the business is locally owned, then you are supporting another community member, who, in turn, puts money back into the local economy; you’re helping to provide employment opportunities so that people don’t need to move away to find work; you’re...

Home & community
I want to continue working past 65. What are my options?

Working past 65 is fast becoming the norm in New Zealand; in fact, almost half of people aged between 65 – 69 are still in paid employment in New Zealand. People will have their own reasons for wanting to work into their later years; for some it’s about contributing their...

Home & community
I’m thinking of volunteering. What are the benefits?

Many people continue working past 65 – whether in paid or unpaid roles. In fact, by 2036 it is estimated that those over 65 will contribute 25 billion worth of unpaid or voluntary work to New Zealand’s economy. Not only does volunteering have a positive impact on the economy, but...

Home & community
I’m worried about my neighbour. Should I check on them?

I’m worried about my neighbour. She’s seems quite private and looks very frail. Sometimes I don’t see any movement at her place for days on end. Should I go and check on her? We live in a society where many people have highly valued privacy and individual responsibility and freedom,...

Home & community
What does community mean for us these days?

What community means is a big subject. For some it means very little and for others it’s a daily lived experience. It is something we're likely to have to consider as the new health system rolls out its locality based services. We'll talk about this more as the plan become...

Home & community
Where can I find my local social services community house?

Some communities won't know about this type of service as they are scattered around the country and not necessarily available in all areas. Community houses (sometimes known as ‘one stop shops’) are usually large buildings tenanted by various social service and other related agencies. For example, you may find a...