The Kaupapa
ElderLink is dedicated to supporting Marlborough's 65+ demographic both now and into the future. Our kaupapa is guided by two key focuses:
- Immediate objectives - Providing direct, practical assistance to our service recipients on an as-needed basis.
- Long-Term Vision - Building a lasting culture of care across generations. By addressing both present needs and future sustainability, we ensure that support for over-65s in our community is future-proofed.
Immediate Purpose:
Our direct support includes food parcel delivery and opportunities for social connection, including talk cafes and trips to the Picton foreshore or the beach. Practical assistance can ease financial pressure, while time spent together gives people opportunities to connect with others and enjoy shared activities within their community.
Long-Term Vision:
We are committed to creating a future where support for over-65s is deeply embedded at a grassroots level in Marlborough. By connecting older people with younger generations and promoting youth volunteering, we're hoping to cultivate a lifelong sense of engagement and care across age demographics - ensuring future generations grow up valuing and looking out for those who built our communities. We want Marlborough to stand out nationally as a community that provides exceptional quality of life for its older population.
The Challenges
Some over-65s are spending up to 95 percent of their superannuation on rent. The Retirement Commission estimates the number of over-65s who are renting could double by 2048, to more than 600,000.
- RNZ Investigation
On average, a single pension recipient on a "no frills" budget spends $564.25 weekly, while the pension for those living alone is $519.47 - leaving people having to spend more than they received.
- Massey University Study
20% of over-65s pay rent, and this increases to 35% of Māori and 46% of Pasifika. Many live in unsuitable housing, struggle to pay increasingly high rents, and find themselves moving constantly.
- The Retirement Commission
Social isolation is associated with higher mortality in older adults - the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes per day.
- Aging Well National Challenge
Practical Help and Human Connection
A food parcel can ease pressure on a household budget. A conversation can give someone the chance to talk about a difficult week. ElderLink brings practical assistance together with opportunities for social contact, recognising that financial hardship and isolation can affect the same person.
Our immediate purpose is to respond to needs among older people in Marlborough aged 65 and over. Food support is part of that work. So are opportunities to spend time together, whether through a talk cafe, a trip to the Picton foreshore, or a day at the beach.
We want older people to feel comfortable asking about support. If you are unsure whether ElderLink can help with your circumstances, please contact us to discuss what you need.
Connections Across Generations
Our long-term vision is for a Marlborough where people of different ages feel connected and included. Older people bring their own interests and experiences to those relationships, just as younger people do. We want to create opportunities to spend time together and contribute alongside one another.
Youth volunteering offers a practical way to build that connection. Spending time alongside people from another generation creates opportunities to listen and learn from their experiences. It also gives younger volunteers a chance to contribute to the community they share.
We hope those connections will continue beyond individual activities. The aim is a lasting culture of care, carried forward by people who understand why it matters.
Supporting ElderLink's Work
People can contribute to ElderLink in different ways. Some may have time to volunteer. Others may wish to make a donation or ask how they could support a fundraiser.
If volunteering interests you, our Volunteer page is the place to start. You can also contact us to discuss how you would like to be involved. Donations can be made through ElderLink's Givealittle page.
We welcome enquiries from people who want to support older people in Marlborough. A conversation helps us understand what you have in mind and explore how it could fit with our work.
Finding Information and Staying Connected
Older people and their families may need information as well as practical help. Our External Services directory brings together information about other organisations and services that may be useful.
Our News page shares updates about ElderLink's activities and progress. It offers a way to follow our work over time and see what is happening within the community.
For questions about ElderLink, please use the contact details or website enquiry form. Tell us what you would like to know so we can respond to your enquiry.
Please Support Our Work
Your contribution helps us continue providing essential support to seniors in Marlborough.
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