Some elderly people will still have telephone interviews under the Otago and Southland District Health Boards' revised plan to introduce cuts to housework assistance.
Boards' chief executive Brian Rousseau said yesterday in an email response to questions, some people with more than 1.5 hours of domestic assistance would be interviewed by telephone or face-to-face, depending on the person's circumstances and ability to provide the necessary information.
"For example, if a person is hearing impaired or suffers memory loss, then a phone assessment would not be appropriate."
The boards advised this week that the review of domestic assistance would continue, but instead of taking two or three months, would be phased in over about six months.
Age Concern executive office Susan Davidson said she was disappointed with the telephone assessment plans, but it was the responsibility of the boards to ensure people in Otago did not have similar bad experiences to those of some people elsewhere in New Zealand.
The home support service providers might be able to help provide information on who would be suitable for a telephone interview.
Close collaboration between the board and providers would be " the only way this could possibly be successful", she said.
Mr Rousseau said all clients of the needs assessment service co-ordinators (NASC) had had a review during the past 12 months, most as recently as six months ago.
"If there is a change in condition during this time, such as hearing or memory loss, the providers are required to notify the NASC service so the person can be reassessed."
Family doctors also referred to NASC for a reassessment if something significant changed, such as hearing or memory loss.
Letters to about 2000 people receiving 1.5 hours or less of house cleaning a week will begin going out this week, notifying them of the proposed service reduction.
