Funding crisis for support group

John Maslin | 16th March 2010

Economic hardship is threatening the existence of one of Wanganui's health help organisations.

Alzheimers Society Wanganui says for the the first time in its 20-year existence its annual income  is  about $30,000 short of what it needed.

Society administrator Jill Jackson said it had been relying heavily on grants from a variety of trusts but because those outlets were tightening their purse strings,  her organisation was underfunded.

And Mrs Jackson said the budget shortfall  was jeopardising the future of the organisation that helped sufferers of dementia and those who cared for them.

She said there was now no guarantee that the generosity of donations from trusts could be relied on with any certainty in future.

"We know that in today's economic climate if we continue to rely on these grants as our chief source of income, Alzheimers Society Wanganui will not survive," she said.

"Without community support we may not be here to celebrate our 21st birthday in October next year."

Mrs Jackson says  current predictions are that in 16 years  there will be 1180 people in the Wanganui-Rangitikei-Waimarino region who will be suffering from dementia.

"We need an increase in donations from our local community to continue helping those families in our region currently living with dementia," she said.

She said Alzheimers Wanganui was aware it was not the only organisation seeking help from the public, and it needed to look to the community for a greater contribution.

"Dementia is really a community problem and I think the community has to take some
ownership of the problem to a degree.

"We know people don't have a lot of money but we're not asking for a lot. What we are asking for is a lot of people to give a little," she said.

Mrs Jackson said dementia was a world-wide problem and recognised as presenting a challenge on the scale of HIV/Aids.

She said the Wanganui organisation ran community groups for sufferers both in Wanganui and Marton every fortnight and part of its success was due to a grant from Powerco Trust that enabled  it to buy a minibus.

"If we didn't have that bus then programme just wouldn't happen."

She said it was vitally important that sufferers maintained community contact and did not become isolated.

Jenny Spence, manager and community co-ordinator, said early diagnosis of dementia had a positive effect on sufferers.

"It's about encouraging this social interaction and supporting them and their families," Ms Spence said.

"The numbers who be affected by the disease will be huge and the emphasis must shift from the carers to becoming one of a community focus.

"The community has to come on board because both carer and sufferer need that total support."

If you want to donate to Alzheimers Society Wanganui, call 345 8833 or email:
 alzheimers.wang@xtra.co.nz