Future of Wharekaka – Preliminary Plan

Background

Wharekaka commenced in 1972, as a day centre for older people, run by volunteers.  

 Our mission is 

• To provide holistic, comprehensive, and dedicated care for our community while promoting the independence of older people in a warm and friendly home environment. 

Until early 2022 the Trust Board fulfilled its objectives and mission through:

• the operation of a 20-bed rest home and hospital
• operation of a small retirement village of 12 units for independent living
• provision of a meals on wheels service to Martinborough, Featherston and Greytown

For many years the funding for residential care, provided by Government, has not covered costs. Wharekaka, like other small, community owned aged care facilities experienced growing financial operating deficits.   Like others, we found that construction and turnover of a few villas does not provide an income stream sufficiently reliable, regular, or large enough to cover the ongoing operating deficit. 

Over the last five years the Trust, aided by the Wharekaka Auxiliary, has made increasing efforts to raise funds by donation and through various fund-raising activities.   This, plus use of its reserves, enabled the Trust to keep operating residential care services, providing there was full occupancy.  

An unexpected blow came in October 2021 when Wharekaka lost some registered nurses due to the COVID vaccination mandate and so was unable to accept any further hospital level residents.  The Trust was forced to accept that it would be impossible to restore hospital level care in the foreseeable future. Its reserves were exhausted, and it had no choice but to close the rest home/hospital.   To do otherwise would have led to insolvency.

Current position

The question now is:  What next for Wharekaka?  Could we still pursue our mission in a way that is financially sustainable? 

We currently have:

• 12 villas for independent living, occupied by 13 older people 
• a meals on wheels service, strongly supported by the Wharekaka Auxiliary and other volunteer drivers, which relies on significant income from grants and fund raising to cover its costs.
• a large empty building with a lovely dining room, kitchen, and lounge, plus 20 empty small bedrooms.   

The holding costs of the building are significant and cannot be sustained for more than a few months.  We are in a fragile financial position with no reserves.  

Our community feels very strongly that Wharekaka must continue in some form.  The question is in what form and which developments and activities will be financially viable? 

Our proposal

We propose to develop Wharekaka as a community hub for older people in Martinborough and environs to promote their health and wellbeing.  This will support, engage, and connect older people living in the community as well as those living within the Wharekaka complex, and help to reduce the isolation experienced by many older people in our rural communities.

Three streams of activity

1. Accommodation

There is general agreement on the need for a mix of different types of accommodation for older people from middle and low socio-economic groups, with eligibility dependent on need, rather than strictly on age.  This mix may include:

• Further two-bedroom villas
• One-bedroom villas, with or without garages
• Studio apartments
• Rental accommodation and/or social housing.

In expanding our property portfolio, it may be mutually beneficial to partner with another similar agency. 

2. Social support and activity

Some social support activity is already underway, such as meals on wheels, villa residents’ happy hour and activity groups such as Pilates and gardening.  Activity groups should involve both residents and people in the wider community.  Other social and activity streams are planned to develop shortly, in partnership with Age Concern Wairarapa. To be truly effective, the social activities will need a coordinator to organise and promote them.

3. Health support and advice

This is an area that has yet to be developed, again focussing on the wider community as well as residents.  It might involve:

• Renting out Wharekaka rooms for visiting Outreach clinics 
• Facilitating, or providing the venue for educational activities for health and well-being, 
• Providing a base for activities by other relevant groups such as Alzheimers Wairarapa, Parkinson’s New Zealand, Stroke Foundation, Arthritis Foundation, Age Concern
• Supporting people to connect with the services and resources they need. 

Next step – check this is the right approach

We now intend to consult widely with our community, over the next six weeks, reaching as many groups and individuals as we can, to check whether these concepts have their support and to give everyone the opportunity to have influence on more detailed design as we move forward.  

How to have your say: 

• Respond to the questions in the box on this page
• Send your thoughts in an email to admin@wharekaka.org
• Ask us to come and meet with your group – email admin@wharekaka.org to arrange this
• Come to one of our informal coffee and discussion meetings at Wharekaka on: 
  • Wednesday 10 August at 2.30 pm
  • Tuesday 16 August at 10.30 am
  • Thursday 18 August at 7.00 pm 

We look forward to hearing from you!  We value your input. 

QUESTIONS  in a box, with dotted line and scissors icon around, with space to write answers under or beside each one.

1. 1. 1. 1. Do you agree that the 3 priorities should be: social activity, health related activity and accommodation for older people?  If not, what do you suggest? 
         2. Would you, or an older person you know, make use of any activity and other social programmes at Wharekaka? 
         3. What kinds of activity and support services would you, or an older person you know, find most helpful? 
         4. How should we provide for older people living in more remote rural areas? 
         5. Would you, or an older person you know, be interested in moving into a villa or apartment at Wharekaka, if these were available?
         6. Would you or an older person you know be interested in rental accommodation at Wharekaka? 
         7. What should we keep in mind as we develop this plan further?
         8. Your name and contact details – optional