This covers the main Social Services older people use. As people become older, some decisions seem harder to make, and some personal issues hard to resolve. Getting access to the right type of information can also appear daunting at times.These include agencies that offer personal help such as counselling and information services, as well as help for financial matters and emergency assistance.

Typical issues people want help with include:

• Planning the future
• Financial issues
• Getting help in the home
• Community Services that assist people to stay at home
• Rest Homes/Hospitals/Semi-independent living

In addition people will often experience personal or relationship difficulties. Some typical situations people face are:

• Learning to live alone after the death of a spouse or a close relative
• Handling feelings of depression, loneliness or fear
• Relationship or family problems
• Coping with change e.g. after a stroke, or loss of some independence (like driving a car).

View Community Agencies and Support Groups for your area.

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

Elder abuse comes in many forms - it is not always obvious and is generally unreported reported: Abuse can be physical, social, emotional,financial or psychological. It invariably stems from a relationship of trust that has been abused.

Sometimes elder abuse emerges from ignorance, ie the perpetrator does not appreciate the older person's changing needs, or understand their behaviour. Other instances can involve financial abuse in which a person in a position of trust has direct access to an older person's cash assets or property. Often older people trust family members, care workers, tradespeople etc. because they seem 'nice people:

Abuse also needs to be perceived - in the eye of the beholder; ie if an older person feels they are being abused, harmed, threatened etc., then an elder abuse situation may exist.

There are a number of organisations who not only investigate cases of suspected abuse, but are actively involved in support, referral, education and helping people gain a true perspective of
abusive situations.

See most Community Agencies and Support Groups in your local area.

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa Community Support Elderly 
• Katikati Community Support Elderly
  
• Te Puke Community Support Elderly 
  
• Taranaki Community Support Elderly
  
• Horowhenua Community Support Elderly
  

Foodbanks provide emergency food for those who have no food and little money to purchase food.

View most Community Agencies and Support Groups for your area.

• Tauranga/Mount Maunganui/Papamoa Community Support groups
  
• Katikati Community Support groups
  
• Te Puke Community Support groups
  
• Taranaki Community Support groups
  
• Horowhenua Community Support groups
  

The Returned Services Association offers a welfare service to Returned Service men and women, their spouses and families.The Welfare Officers offer assistance for financial, emotional, housing or transport concerns.

As well as ensuring returned service personnel are getting their legal entitlements (e.g.War Pensions and Benefits),the Welfare Officers can also access trust funds to assist with other needs such as Optical, Dental, Medical expenses. In some cases assistance with gardening and transport can be arranged.

Anyone who believes they have some type of disability (including anxiety/neurosis) as a result of War Service is encouraged to phone the RSA for advice. Servicemen and women do not have to be paid up members in order to qualify for assistance. Welfare officers can visit people in their own homes.

Go to last section in these pages below for your local RSA organisations

• Tauranga Service Organisations
  
• Katikati Service Organisations
  
• Taranaki Service Organisations
  
• Te Puke Service Organisations
• Horowhenua Service 0rganisations
  

View many other Community Agencies and Support Groups for your area.

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

This is a free, confidential and voluntary money management service, providing information, education, support and advice to people to enable them to manage their finances.The service is especially for those people who have difficulty with finances.

View most Community Agencies and Support Groups for your area.

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

A confidential counselling service for individuals, couples and families experiencing relationship or personal issues. Fees are income related.

View Most Community Agencies and Support Groups for your area.

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