Some people become confused in understanding the Home Help provisions.There is a Home Support Service for people with an age related condition.

The Home Help Service administered through Community Health Services is in relation to personal health needs (e.g. cancer, conditions relating to respiratory, renal or cardiac function, ME etc.).
Often people are offered short term Home Help following an operation.The amount of Home Help is dependent on the assessment. Referrals are frequently made to the"age related" assessment service if people require long term help.

Depending on the area you live in usually a District Nurse or a Needs Assessment  & Service Co ordination assessor is responsible for the assessment of the person's condition.

For your local NASC see Links below or Agencies Providing Care

Tauranga Area -  SupportNet
Taranaki  -  Taranaki Interim NASC
Horowhenua  - Support Links

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa
• Katikati
• Te Puke
• Taranaki
• Horowhenua
  

You can find more information on Needs Assessment Service and Service Co-ordination here.

View local Agencies Providing Care at Home

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa Home Care
• Katikati Home Care
  
• Te Puke Home Care
  
• Taranaki Home Care
  
• Horowhenua Home Care
  

View local Home Help Services available

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa Home Help
• Katikati Home Help
  
• Te Puke Home Help
  
• Taranaki Home Help
  
• Horowhenua Home Help
  
  

District Nursing can provide a nursing service for personal health needs for people in the community.

As well as providing general nursing care, District Nurses are especially involved with nursing services in the home following hospital discharge, wound care, palliative care and intravenous therapy. Often if the care need continues after 8 weeks from discharge then Needs Assessment Support Co-ordination is involved in assessing and carry on care under their "banner". As one can see, it can sometimes become quite involved and confusing.

District Nurses can also assist with short-term loan of equipment such as bed cradles, toilet chairs, shower stools, bath seats, toilet seats, bed pans, urinals, beds and feeding pumps.

Home oxygen is provided to those people who have been referred by a Respiratory Physician.

Referrals to District Nursing Services can be made from the Hospital, Doctors and allied Health Professionals. Self referral can also be accepted.

View Nursing Services:

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa Nursing Servcies
  
• Katikati Nursing Services
  
• Te Puke Nursing Services
  
• Taranaki Nursing Services
  
• Horowhenua Nursing Services
  

The Continence Nurse provides advice, suggestions and support to people with incontinence problems. Incontinence is more common than most people think, sometimes it can be cured, and almost always can be improved.

The Continence Nurse can advise on product safety and provide on incontinence issues.

Some incontinence products can be made available free of charge, depending on a assessment.

There is a Continence Nurse available in the Bay of Plenty.

Referrals can be made through your Doctor or by self referral.

For information on products etc click here.

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa Continence care
• Katikati Continence care
  
• Te Puke Continence care
  
• Taranaki Continence care
  
• Horowhenua Continence care
  

Occupational Therapy is an important service for older people at home in the community. Occupational Therapists help solve everyday difficulties, aiming to maintain or improve a person's level of Independence. Occupational Therapists provide advice and suggestions on a range of topics including:

• Dressing, showering or bathing, transferring on/off beds, toilets, chairs etc,going up/down stairs and paths, preparing meals, holding objects such as scissors, cutlery, taps etc, performing household tasks, leisure activities, driving and vehicle mobility.
• Occupational Therapists also assess people for home modifications and equipment. There can be funding available for essential home modifications. However assessments need to be made by Occupational Therapists before applications for funding can be made.

In general, if older people (or their relatives) notice that everyday tasks are becoming difficult or unsafe, the Occupational Therapy  Service may be asked to make an assessment and advise on services that could be funded by the Ministry of Health. Referrals are usually made through your Doctor but there are also private Occupational Therapist's available in the community.

View Occupational Therapists.

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa Occupational Therapy
• Katikati Occupational Therapy
  
• Te Puke Occupational Therapy 
  
• Taranaki Occupational Therapy  
• Horowhenua Occupational Therapy
  

Oncology is a term used to describe the field of medicine specialising in the care of people with cancer and other malignant conditions. Palliative Care is aimed at preventing or treating problems caused by such advanced illnesses which are unable to be cured.

The Oncology/Palliative care service is usually part of District Nursing, the nurse provides support and education of patients and carers in order to optimise quality of life.

This service provides for follow up of people receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and close liaison with other services involved with the treatment of people.

Referrals are made through your Doctor, Hospital Staff and Health Professionals.

Also view  Hospices.

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa and surrounds Palliative Care
  
• Taranaki/New Plymouth Palliative Care
  
• Horowhenua Palliative Care
  
  

Domiciliary Physiotherapy is a home based service for those physically unable to attend a clinic. Physiotherapists deal mainly with joint problems, chest conditions, and offer post-operative physiotherapy. Referral is usually by Doctors. 

View Physiotherapists:

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa Physiotherapists
• Katikati Physiotherapists
  
• Te Puke Physiotherapists
  
• Taranaki Physiotherapists
  
• Horowhenua Physiotherapists
  
  

These services provide nutrition counselling and assessment, and specialised advice for diabetics.

Dietitians also often provide nutrition information and education services to health professionals and the public by providing talks, seminars etc.

Referral can be made through your Doctor or through self-referral

For more information in your local area see here

Tauranga Dietitians
Taranaki Dietitians
Horowhenua Dietitians