Kaye Thorpe is a Housing Officer and her job is to manage NPDC’s 140 Housing for the Elderly units across the district.
For her the lockdown has been all about helping the residents if they need shopping picked up, assisting with GP appointments and prescriptions or just a friendly, reassuring phone call to keep them in touch.
“Most of the residents are pretty resilient, some having been through tough times already and they’re very resourceful too,” says Kaye. “The majority are coping just fine but for some it’s an anxious time. I went shopping for four tenants last week who either don’t have anyone to help or rely on an elderly neighbour. Some of the residents have children who are over 70 so they’re missing seeing them. One lady even said her cleaning lady isn’t coming at the moment because she’s 73!”
Like other NPDC workers who are keeping core services running - water, rubbish and roads - Kaye’s role is classed as an essential worker.
The Housing for the Elderly Units are located in New Plymouth, Bell Block, Waitara and Inglewood.
Page last updated: 09:44am Fri 06 August 2021