An earthquake memories story from Bevan Harden, Clinical Pharmacy Supervisor, Christchurch Hospital, titled, "Response based on common sense".
A presentation by Professor Simon Kingham (Department of Geography) on "The Impact of Exposure to the Earthquake on Geographical Variations in Non-Emergency Stress Related Health".
A photograph of cranes in the Christchurch skyline.
Slides from the presentation by Professor Simon Kingham (Department of Geography) on "The Impact of Exposure to the Earthquake on Geographical Variations in Non-Emergency Stress Related Health".
People aged 65 years and older are the fastest growing age group in New Zealand. By the mid-2070s, there are predictions that this age group is likely to comprise approximately one third of the population. Older people are encouraged to stay in their own homes within their community for as long as possible with support to encourage the extension of ageing in place. Currently around 14% of those aged 75 years or older, make the move into retirement villages. This is expected to increase. Little is known by retirement villages about the wellbeing and health of those who decide to live independently in these facilities. Predicting the need for a continuum of care is challenging. This research measured the wellbeing and health of older adults. It was situated in a critical realist paradigm, overlaid with an empathetic axiology. A focused literature review considered the impact on wellbeing from the aspects of living place, age, gender, health status and the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes. Longitudinal studies used the Enlightenment Scale and the interRAI Community Health Assessment (CHA) to measure the wellbeing and health of one group of residents (n=120) living independently in one retirement village in Canterbury, New Zealand. The research was extended to incorporate two cross-section studies when initial results for wellbeing were found to be higher than anticipated. These additional studies included participants living independently from other retirement villages (n=115) and those living independently within the community (n=354). A total of 589 participants, aged 65 – 97 years old, completed the Enlightenment Scale across the four studies. Across the living places, wellbeing continued to significantly improve with age. The Enlightenment Scale was a useful measure of wellbeing with older adults. Participants in the longitudinal studies largely maintained a relatively good health status, showing little change over the study period of 15 months. Predictions for the need for a move to supportive care were not able to be made using the CHA. The health status of participants did not influence their level of wellbeing. The key finding of note is that the wellbeing score of older adults increases by 1.27 points per year, using the Enlightenment Scale, irrespective of where they live.
A photograph of members of the Diabetes Centre team with items retrieved from their offices.
A photograph of an office in the Diabetes Centre. The office furniture has been pushed together to prepare the room for earthquake repair work.
A photograph of a room in the Diabetes Centre. Boxes and files have fallen off the bookcases and spread out across the floor.
A photograph of a room in the Diabetes Centre. Boxes and files have fallen off the bookcases and spread out across the floor.
A photograph of a member of the Diabetes Centre team working in an office in the Diabetes Centre on Hagley Avenue. Bits of broken wood are lying on the floor in front of the desk.
A photograph of a room in the Diabetes Centre which has been used to store office material while the building is being prepared. Boxes of files and other material have been stacked against the far wall.
A photograph of a gap between two sections of cladding on one of the outside corners of the Diabetes Centre.
A photograph of a room in the Diabetes Centre. Several filing cabinets have opened and files have fallen off the bookcases on the left and right, spilling onto the floor and furniture.
A photograph of members of the Diabetes Centre team with items retrieved from their offices.
A photograph of an office in the Diabetes Centre. Files have fallen off the bookcase and lie on the floor.
A photograph of an office in the Diabetes Centre. Boxes and files have fallen off the bookcases and desks and lie on the floor.
A photograph of an office in the Diabetes Centre. Files have fallen off the desk and lie on the floor.
A photograph of members of the Diabetes Centre team standing outside the Diabetes Centre. The team are holding bags and boxes which they will use to carry items retrieved from their offices.
A photograph of a member of the Diabetes Centre team standing in the entrance way to the Diabetes Centre. In the background, a carpenter is working on building repairs.
A photograph of the shop in the Diabetes Centre. Products have fallen off the shelves and lie on the floor.
This thesis focuses attention on the ongoing effects of the earthquakes on children in Christchurch. It identifies the learning and behavioural difficulties evident in an increasing number of students and cautions the use of the word 'resilient' to describe children who may be just managing. This assumption has a significant impact on the wellbeing of many Christchurch children who, disaster literature warns, are likely to be under-served. This thesis suggests that, because of the scale of need, schools are the best place to introduce practices that will foster wellbeing. Mindfulness practices are identified as a potential tool for ameliorating the vulnerabilities experienced by children, while at the same time working to increase their capabilities. This thesis argues that, through mindful practices, children can learn to be more reflective of their emotions and respond in more considered ways to different situations. They can become more relational, having a greater understanding of others through a deeper understanding of themselves, and they can build resilience by developing the protective factors that promote more adaptive functioning. This thesis identifies the strong links between mindfulness and the holistic wellbeing concept of Te Whare Tapa Whã and a Mãori worldview. Strong links are also identified with the vision, values and key competencies of the New Zealand Curriculum and 21st Century learners. Both short and long term recommendations are made for the introduction of mindfulness practices in schools to enhance the wellbeing of children.
A photograph of a crack leading from the corner of a window in the Diabetes Centre.
A photograph of a member of the Diabetes Centre team in one of the rooms in the Diabetes Centre. The panelling has been removed from the wall behind, exposing the wooden frame underneath. In the foreground, a tarpaulin has been used to wall off the furniture from the rest of the room. The tarpaulin has partly fallen.
A photograph of a bathroom in the Diabetes Centre which has been prepared for repairs. A tarpaulin has been used to cover the floor.
A photograph of a window frame which has been removed from the Diabetes Centre and propped against the wall outside.
A photograph of workers removing a window frame from the Diabetes Centre.
A photograph of the Diabetes Centre on Hagley Avenue. Scaffolding has been constructed up the sides of the building.
A photograph of a room in the Diabetes Centre which has been prepared for repainting. The furniture has been covered by a tarpaulin and plastic sheeting has been placed over the carpet.
A photograph of the partially-demolished Hagley Hostel on Riccarton Avenue.
A photograph of the partially-demolished Hagley Hostel, taken from the intersection of Riccarton and Hagley Avenues.