Open day puts aids for elderly in reach

Disability Resource Centre Southland physical therapist Amy-Rae Wilson with an assortment of the ...
Disability Resource Centre Southland physical therapist Amy-Rae Wilson with an assortment of the "living aids" available on the open day at the Gore Senior Citizens Club in Ardwick St.
Walking sticks, handy reachers, magnifying aids, jar openers and peelers are among the most popular aids available at the Disability Resource Centre (DRC) open days at the Gore Senior Citizens Club on Ardwick St.

The Senior Citizens Club invites DRC Southland to visit Gore every two months for the open days.

It gives club members and people from the wider public the chance to hire or buy aids to help them in their daily lives.

‘‘If we don't have it, we can look into getting it,'' DRC recreation therapist Amy-Rae Wilson said.

Miss Wilson tried to bring particular items that people asked for and samples of new aids from the Invercargill shop, she said.

‘‘You can guarantee people will want something we don't bring.''

One of the latest aids the DRC brought to Gore was incontinence products.

The DRC also hired out bigger items, such as shower stools and commodes, and the organisation also had a ‘‘hire to buy'' scheme which was very popular.

The organisation's community leisure and recreation service helped adults with disabilities to access leisure and recreation opportunities in the community, she said.

The DRC, which had just moved to 137 Spey St in Invercargill, was also one of the agencies which carried out assessments for the Total Mobility Scheme.

Other services included their home support service to about 1000 clients in Southland, she said.

An information service was also provided by which people could phone and get free information on a range of topics from accommodation to transport.

- Dion Woodfield

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