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After two years of “suffering” without an aged care facility, Wairoa has had some positive news.

Heritage Lifecare, which operated Glengarry Lifecare in Wairoa, is assessing options for the future of its facility now that ’s insurance claims for damage to the land and buildings have been settled.

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little says it is unbelievable the town has not had an aged care facility for nearly two years.

“Our elderly have suffered and been forced away from their hometown with people dying without their family and friends around them,” Little said.

He said it was positive news.

Chief executive Norah Barlow said Heritage was committed to helping Glengarry find a way forward after the cyclone forced its closure.

“During the cyclone we were able to safely relocate our residents to our other homes in Gisborne and Rotorua,” Barlow said.

“Since then, the Wairoa community has been without an aged care facility because of the damage caused.

“Now we finally have a settlement on what was a very complex insurance process, and we can work with other parties on a solution for the future of Glengarry.”

As part of this, Heritage is buying back the land and buildings from the existing landlord Centuria Capital Group, which acquired the property in 2021.

“We are consolidating the ownership and operations of Glengarry into a single business unit to enable a way forward,” she said.

Little said they needed the Government and respective agencies to get behind this to ensure Wairoa once again has a much-needed elderly/respite care facility.

“At the end of the day, we are not interested in the ownershipas long as a model is being provided that looks after our elderly people and gives them the level of care and respect that they deserve.

“I find it incredible that it has taken so long to get to this position and that during this time we have not even been provided with a temporary facility – even just for respite care,” he said.

Barlow said New Zealand’s existing funding model for aged care has not been adequate for smaller communities like Wairoa.

“Going forward, Glengarry will need a collective approach between the local community and Health New Zealand to re-establish,” Barlow said.

“We remain committed to helping find a way forward for Glengarry.”

Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora central regional manager Ageing Well Sharlene Tapa-Mosen said they were working with the Wairoa community and stakeholders to identify and consider options for the future of aged care in Wairoa.

“Health NZ continues to engage with Heritage Lifecare on its intentions and models of care. We are also looking at other models of care that may need to be considered as interim or longer-term solutions, while the Glengarry facility remains closed,” Tapa-Mosen said.

“The Wairoa community is committed to a ‘by Waiora, For Wairoa, To Wairoa’ approach and decisions about the best type of service delivery over the medium to long term must be co-designed with the community.

“We also continue to support the residents of the service and their whānau in a range of ways pending a longer-term solution. We have worked with the local providers and the community on options other than residential care to support older whānau to remain in their own community wherever possible,” she said.

“Our team focuses on ensuring existing supports and services are operating effectively.

“We acknowledge that the aged care sector is facing challenges across the country and Health NZ has a review of funding and service models for aged care services underway.

“Its purpose is to provide recommendations that will, over time, improve the sustainability of services and ensure equity of access and outcomes for older people across New Zealand.”

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.