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LIVING WELL: From left, Bob Shaw (Ageing and Disability Advisory Group), Mayor Clare McLaughlin, Merilyn Alt (Waverton Hub) and Melissa Kruger (UniSA). Picture: Whyalla News
Nearly 100 people attending the City of Whyalla’s Ageing Well in Your Community forum at the Council chamber last week to hear about the success of the Waverton Hub in New South Wales and services in Whyalla.
Waverton Hub Mentoring Group member Merilyn Alt, Whyalla Ageing and Disability Advisory Group Chairman Bob Shaw and UniSA Whyalla Department of Rural Health Manager Melissa Kruger spoke at the forum.
Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin officially opened the forum and said it was a great event to help enlighten residents to ageing services available in the community which they may not have been aware of. She said it was also a good opportunity for agencies and the community to come together to hear about the Waverton Hub model.
"It's helped connect local groups who don't usually get together to chat," Mayor McLaughlin said.
“Council is a key supporter of the Whyalla Ageing and Disability Advisory Group and our city leads the way in the care and support of valuable senior citizens and those living with a disability.
“These sort of forums help everyone get together to continue the good work being done in our city in these areas and find out about new ideas.”
Ms Alt discussed the Waverton Hub model, which is a mutual organisation of the residents of Waverton, Wollstonecraft and neighbouring areas in Sydney.
It affords elderly residents the dignity of remaining in their own home while enjoying activities and social events like walking groups, Tai Chi, dinners and games nights at community halls and clubs.
Ms Alt said there were elements of the hub which could be applied to regional areas like Whyalla.
"It's about doing things that aren't on offer in the community at the moment, so there might be some new activities which could be started up here," she said.
"It gives people an opportunity to get out of the house and socialise."
The Waverton Hub has achieved positive results in connecting elderly residents that live near one another but have never met and providing key support for those who live alone.
"One man had quite a severe health issue and he lived alone, his only family member lived overseas and he looked like he needed to go into a nursing home," Ms Alt said.
"But the combination of some hub members being prepared to visit him every day with some formal community care services meant he could actually stay at home."
Bob Shaw, the Chairman of the advisory group for ageing and disability, said the new group would aim to 'joint the dots' between local organisations that cater to the elderly in the community.
"The more we know the more we can spread the information around, I think that is really important," he said.
Melissa Kruger gave the elderly attendants an insight into the podiatry services available at the UniSA Whyalla Rural Health Clinic.