A community café for older people launched six months ago in Takapau, Central Hawke’s Bay, has proved to be a popular social hub for over 60s.
The idea came out of a conversation between the Rev Dot King of St Mark’s Anglican/Presbyterian Church, Takapau, and Maureen Smith, Age Concern Central Hawke’s Bay field officer. Dot, who volunteers for Age Concern visiting older people living alone, agreed to help Maureen find a place for the community’s older people to get together with people their own age. Maureen took the café concept to Faith Kaufman, Enliven Service Manager for Presbyterian Support East Coast, and the Enliven Community Café was born in late August 2009, with Enliven providing Vivienne Trowbridge-Paton as the community café coordinator.
Held in the lounge of St Mark’s Anglican/Presbyterian Church in Takapau, the community café initially attracted six older people but within six months numbers doubled to 12 “all aged in their 60s,” Dot says, “and all still living in their own homes. Half of the group are widows and half are living alone. Only one of our older people is male so we really want to encourage more men to come along”. Dot says that people should not get too “hung up on age; yes, the café is for those aged 65 and over but anyone in Central Hawke’s Bay over 55 would be welcome”.
The café runs fortnightly on Fridays from 10am to about 2pm; morning tea and a two-course lunch are served. Dot says the meal costs $7 and is prepared by seven of the church’s pastoral care team. “There is small cost of $4 for a Tai Chi class to get the body moving, there are board games to get the brain moving and we always have some form of entertainment. People stay for as many of the café activities as they want to.”
Every third week the café has a bus trip. Recently the group went to Norsewood and had morning tea at a café and a tour of the Norsewear factory. At Christmas the café held a Christmas lunch and a choir performed. The Christmas meal was so successful that the café is planning to host a mid-Winter Christmas lunch.
Dot says those attending the community café say that they love it and they appreciate the support they get from coordinator Vivienne, who asks them what they want to do and then finds ways to make this happen. “It’s a very friendly group; everyone gets along really well. We always have a cup of tea and a chat at the beginning of each café so new people are welcomed in.”
Because Takapau is a rural community, transport to and from the café can be an obstacle. “I pick up one lady,” Dot says, “and in the village area we can pick people up, but getting to those that live out in the country is a problem because of the distances involved. We know of one couple who would love to attend the café but they are a good drive away so they are reliant on their family being able to bring them here and back home during working hours.”
Some of those who attend the cafe are part of St Mark’s parish and, says Dot, she is hopeful that more churches in the area will let their older people know what the café is offering the community.
The café is being publicised through parish newsletters, posters and ads in the local paper that Faith has arranged. “We have also had much-needed cookware donated by the community. Faith also donated a fridge and microwave.”
Dot says that “a good handful of older people in Takapau live alone, and as the church lounge that hosts the cafe can comfortably accommodate 20, we would really love to have another eight older people come and join us.”
By Angela Singer