Record
November 12 2014
Your Local Dealership
The
NZCNA WINNER
2014
Further AvonGo City Ford
‘The voice of your community’
Cnr Main South Rd & Epsom Rd Sockburn | Christchurch P 03 348 4129 or 0800 655 551 Rangiora Service Centre | 78 Ivory Street P 03 313 7059 | avoncityford.co.nz
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Helping hand for physically disabled by Belinda Cullen-Reid
Allowing people with physical disabilities to live as normal a life as possible is the mission of one not-for-profit health and social services organisation about to open its second community home in Rolleston.
Changing school borders
Rolleston’s third state primary school planned to open in 2016 …
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Tough start for anglers
A hardy bunch of anglers took to the high country rivers and lakes recently …
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Outbreak of strangles in Canterbury Equine vet urges owners not to turn a blind eye to their horses’ welfare …
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p Facilities support manager, Mark Anderson and regional manager, Virginia Spoors, of St John of God Hauora Trust, outside the new community home for people with disabilities about to open in Rolleston
St John of God Selwyn is putting the finishing touches to its purpose built home which will provide 24-hour supervised care and support for up to six high needs physically disabled people. “Rolleston is an accessible community,” Virginia Spoors, Regional Manager Southern Health and Ability Services, St John of God Hauora Trust said. “There is still a rural feel about the town and people sometimes have family living nearby.” Ms Spoors said the trust first set up a facility in Rolleston two years
ago when it purchased a home which was previously built with wheelchair accessibility. The trust converted this into a six-bedroom home. The new purpose-built home will be situated on the same site, with residents able to socialise together. “There aren’t many homes for people with physical disabilities with high needs. These people are not sick. They are fragile and vulnerable,” Ms Spoors said. “During the day with support they are able to access day programmes in the Rolleston community.
“They use the Selwyn Aquatic Centre and do everyday activities like shopping, going to cafes and visiting family and friends.” Ms Spoors said there was a constant stream of enquiry from people wanting to live in community homes. Residents were able to access additional health care services through the trust’s Halswell Rehabilitation and Therapy Centre. “Some people aren’t going to recover, but we can help them maintain function as long as we can. It’s about keeping people’s independence,” Ms Spoors said.
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