Report into aged care concerning

• Published date: 18 April 2024
• Publication title: Northern Advocate, The (Whangarei, New Zealand)

It is the first main output of a review of funding and service models for aged care services, which Health NZ began in July last year, and includes feedback from key stakeholders

The review’s second phase has begun and was focused on developing recommendations for the sector.

Its analysis found if historic building rates continued, there could be a shortage of almost 12,000 aged residential care beds by 2032.

It showed there was a variety of levels of service in different areas of the country, for example, the waiting times for high priority individuals being admitted to an aged residential care facility ranged from 92 days in MidCentral (Manawatū area) to 219 days on the West Coast.

High needs dementia and psychogeriatric care residents were waiting, on average, nearly six months to be admitted to an ARC facility after being assessed as high priority for moving out of a home setting.

The review said with an ageing population, its expected demand for these care beds will increase.

Health New Zealand ageing well director Andy Inder said it was vital they fully understood the challenges faced by older people and their whānau across the sector and work together on solutions.

The report identified five pressing issues where policy and service delivery reform are required.

Funding models for the sector not fit for purpose The review found the funding models for aged residential care and home and community support services was not fit for purpose. The aged residential care model relied too heavily on a broad-based average price to incentivise providers to proactively manage residents’ needs.

New contracting and funding arrangements may be necessary alongside a more sophisticated funding model to address pressing issues. In the home and community support services (HCSS) sector, it said the funding model for providers’ travel costs needed urgent reform.

Funding levels need to be increased The report stated there was clear evidence the sector was underfunded with providers building smaller care centres, facilities closing and a shift to providers taking more revenue from...