Aged care crisis looms in New Zealand

New Zealand is facing an increase in its over 65 population, which will increase by 84% in the next 15 years, according to a major review.

The New Zealand Press Association posted an online report saying the review has been commissioned by leaders of the residential aged care sector, the district health boards (DHBs), and the Ministry of Health.

Its main task is to plan for the residential care of the country’s ageing population.

By 2026, the over 65 population is expected to rise from 512,000 to 944,000 people as the overall population grows from 4.2 million to five million.

This will mean an additional 12,000 to 20,000 people will require aged residential care. There are currently just 34,000 aged care beds.

The release of the report was the start of an ongoing collaborative process to find solutions, DHBs chief executive for the health of older people, Chris Fleming, said.

By 2026 the supply of facilities needs to increase by up to 110% to meet the projected increase in residents, the report says.

The current operating profits from rest homes are insufficient to stimulate the required private sector investment and the workforce needed to service the aged care sector has to increase by up to 75%.

The report acknowledges that the situation “will pose challenges to the providers, DHBs, the Ministry of Health and the Government to respond in a manner that will proactively ensure a sustainable sector that meets the needs of New Zealanders into the future”.

The review has identified four scenarios for aged care services in the future:

Improve the current approach;

• enhance professional services in the community;
• individualise funding to empower individuals to make their own choices;
• provide special purpose low income housing for the elderly.

Demand for care of Canterbury elderly set to soar following earthquake

An aged care provider in Christchurch, New Zealand, is preparing for a soar in demand for carers as elderly Canterbury residents face up to an inevitable return to their homes.

Scoop Health Independent News Service quoted aged care worker, Miranda Smith, who said currently many residents were being cared for by neighbours or family however there was acknowledgment that this situation would be short-lived.

“We are hearing stories about residents needing night care in their homes, just to cope with the after shocks and the uncertainty that the tremors are bringing them.”

“It’s particularly frightening for those people on their own, even if they are basically fit and well, ” she added.

“We have carers now who are prepared to get out of their homes to get to the elderly needing assistance, and we are readying for a huge increase in demand.”

A number of elderly residents had been receiving temporary care at Princess Margaret hospital but making sure their return home was as comfortable as possible was top of the list for care providers.

“We’re fortunate to have a large number of carers available and we are able to respond but we envisage we will need more carers.”

Ms Smith said people keen to help should have some nursing experience however this was not always essential.

“We’re hearing that there are people wanting to help out and this could be a good way to lend a hand.”