Monthly Archives

April 2024

ACA appoints Hon. Tracey Martin as new chief executive

By Media Releases

The Aged Care Association is delighted to announce the appointment of Hon. Tracey Martin as chief executive. Ms Martin served as the Minister for Seniors between 2017 and 2020, and has also held the offices of Minister for Children, Minister of Internal Affairs and Associate Minister of Education. Leaving her roles as chair of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Board Member at NZ Transport Agency – Waka Kotahi, Tracey will be starting in her new position on 6 May 2024.

“I am excited to be joining the small but highly energised team at the Association and am looking forward to building off the excellent work done to date in advocating for the strong and well-supported care sector our more senior New Zealanders deserve,” says Tracey.

“There are some critical conversations underway that have the potential to both positively and negatively impact the future of residential care for those who need this sector’s support and services. It is my goal to engage with ACA members to ensure that their needs and the needs of the residents they care for, are accurately reflected in these conversations.”

“We are pleased to welcome Ms Martin to the Aged Care Association at such a pivotal time for aged residential care in New Zealand. Her rich knowledge and understanding of the sector, coupled with her previous experience as a minister and strong networks within government agencies will be invaluable,” says ACA chair Simon O’Dowd.

“Tracey Martin’s appointment reflects the Association’s commitment to advocating for better policies to support our members provide quality care for the elderly across Aotearoa. We are grateful to have someone of her calibre to lead us in these efforts,” he said.

New Zealand’s elders need fit-for-purpose aged care – now and into the future

By Media Releases

The Sapere report on the state of the aged care affirms what the government has known for at almost two decades, says the Aged Care Association (ACA).

The first part of a full review of aged care services and funding, the report’s findings are consistent with the findings of the 2000 PWC report, the 2010 Grant Thornton report, 2014 Grant Thornton report the 2019 EY report, several Ansell Strategic reports, and the Aged Care Association’s own research.

ACA chair, Simon O’Dowd says, “Governments of the past 15 years have ignored the evidence and neglected the aged care sector. We are now at a point where over half of all aged care facilities are making a loss.”

“Unless there is a significant change of strategy and focus to support and fund the sector now, we will see thousands of New Zealanders unable to get the care they need within a decade. As the report notes, there is already an average waiting time of six months for people with dementia to get the care they need, and the country will be short 12,000 aged care beds within a decade.”

“The second part of the aged care service and funding review is critical. We are at a tipping point. If we don’t get this right, the consequences will be dire for the entire health system.”

“There are always going to be people who need round-the-clock care. We need to make sure that residential aged care is always available, and that includes hospital-level care, dementia care, care for young people with disabilities, and palliative care. If that care is not able to be provided in the aged care sector, it will be provided in hospitals; limiting the care available for others.”

“It is our expectation that the Association will be working closely with the Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora review team to develop and implement solutions for the aged care sector that will enable us to provide quality care for New Zealand’s seniors, now and into the future,” O’Dowd says.

Workshop for facility managers and aspiring leaders (June 2024)

By Past Events

The Aged Care Association is pleased to announce the programme for the 2024 workshop for facility managers and aspiring leaders.

These one-day workshops are jam-packed with information and learning that will improve your professional practice and reinvigorate your work life.

The workshops are facilitated by the ACA’s clinical advisor, Rhonda Sherriff, who as well as making sure the day runs smoothly, is available during breaks to answer your clinical questions.

You will receive a certificate of attendance confirming eight hours of professional development.

Monday 10 June | Christchurch
Tuesday 11 June | Dunedin
Monday 17 June | Auckland
Tuesday 18 June | Tauranga
Monday 24 June | Wellington

Speakers

Healing, learning and improving from harm: National adverse events policy.

Dr Leona Dan, System Safety Specialist from the Health, Quality & Safety Commission will give an introduction to the new adverse events reporting requirements and answer your questions about this new reporting regime.

“SAC rating is not an exact science and is decided with input from the clinical team as well as the perspective of the consumer.

The ratings are based on the type of harm that occurs and the resulting loss of function and amount of intervention required. The purpose of a learning from harm review is to look at events from a system perspective considering all the influencing factors and context that contribute to everyday work. The learning comes from a sensemaking process and should be directed at strengthening the system to support workers to be successful and to minimise the risk of things happening again.”

Outcomes of Ngā Paerewa Standards audits – trends and lessons

Lisa Cochrane, an aged residential care auditor at BSI group will join us to discuss the trends she is seeing in recent audits.

BSI works with a wide range of health and disability services such as small homes for people with disabilities, Māori services, large multi-site and stand-alone aged care providers, hospitals, allied health professionals, surgical services, maternity, urgent care, hospice and small and large home care/health services.

They have a team of qualified auditors who audit against standards in the healthcare sector and are fully committed to building quality in health care services throughout New Zealand.

An update from the Health and Disability Commission

Katherine Foulkes, Principal Adviser, Aged Care, Health and Disability Commission

Quality care for LGBTIQA+ residents in aged residential care

Changing demographics mean that aged residential care is becoming more diverse as the years go by and we must be ready to provide appropriate quality care for people of all genders and sexualities. This session will feature facilitators from InsideOut, a national charity providing education, resources, consultation and support for anything concerning rainbow and takatāpui communities. They will support managers with resources and practical tips for cultivating a safer and more inclusive environment for rainbow people, both at the structural and interpersonal level.

An aged care system that is fit for the future

This presentation from the Aged Care Association will update you on the challenges facing the sector now, and into the future, what the ACA is doing about, and what we believe a fit for purpose aged care sector could look like 10 or 20 years from now.

Workshop schedule, venues and parking information

Christchurch | Monday 10 June
Rydges Latimer, 30 Latimer Square, Christchurch Central
Parking at Rydges is $20 a day. There is surrounding street parking (free of charge) within walking distance of the hotel.

Dunedin | Tuesday 11 June
Fable Dunedin, 310 Princes Street, Central Dunedin
Valet parking at the hotel is $40. Street parking is available for $1.50 an hour. Time limits may apply.

Auckland | Monday 17 June
Grand Millenium, 71 Mayoral Drive, Cnr Vincent Street, Auckland
Parking is available on site and costs $25 per day.

Tauranga | Tuesday 18 June
Cubro, 149 Taurikura Drive, Tauriko, Tauranga
Parking is free at the venue and in surrounding streets.

Wellington | Monday 24 June
Lower Hutt Events Centre, 30c Laings Road, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt
The Riddiford Garden carpark is adjacent to Lower Hutt Events Centre on Laings Road ($6 a day). The Centre City Plaza car park is located 250 metres from the venue on Queens Drive (Earlybird $8.00 per day) and the large Riverbank car park is 800 metres from the centre, accessible from Daly Street (maximum daily charge $7.00).

Programme overview

8.30am | Welcome and introductions, Rhonda Sherriff, Facilitator and ACA clinical advisor
8.40am | ACA presentation – An aged care sector that’s fit for the future, Liz Robinson, ACA Communications and Engagement Advisor
9.00am | Outcomes of Ngā Paerewa Standards audits – trends and lessons, Lisa Cochrane, BSI group Head of Delivery (Health)
10.30am | Morning tea and networking
11.00am | Healing, learning and improving from harm: National adverse events policy, Dr Leona Dan, Specialist, System Safety, Health, Quality & Safety Commission
12.00pm | Lunch and networking
12.45pm | Katherine Foulkes, Principal Adviser, Aged Care, Health and Disability Commission
2.15pm | Working afternoon tea
2.45pm | Quality care for LGBTIQA+ residents in aged residential care, InsideOut
4.15pm | Closing comments and farewells, Rhonda Sherriff

If you have any questions about the workshops, please get in touch with Liz Robinson at li*@nz***.nz.