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Brontë Dixon

Minister of Health urged to follow Disability Minister’s lead

By Media ReleasesNo Comments

The Minister for Disability Issues, Hon. Louise Upston, has confirmed that there will be no funding increase for disabled adults in aged care, but has asked the Aged Care Association to be involved in a solution for the sector.

Over 1,000 people with disabilities live in aged residential care facilities. The funding freeze announced recently by the Minister poses challenges for those people and the providers who care for them.

We expect our members will be seriously considering whether they can continue providing care for adults with disabilities. Aged residential care facilities are already on a knife edge, and this funding freeze makes a difficult environment even worse.

The more positive news is that Minister Upston has moved swiftly to address our concerns by establishing an internal taskforce to review disability support service funding models and the commitment to developing an engagement program where we will have the opportunity to participate. The ACA is ready to collaborate with the Taskforce to ensure that the voices of our members are heard in this important process.

We strongly urge the Minister of Health to take similar steps, by establishing a Ministerial Taskforce to work alongside us in addressing broader challenges in the aged care sector. Collaborative solutions are essential for creating a sustainable aged care system that can effectively meet the needs of our communities.

Implementing emergency management plans and business continuity in Aged Residential Care

By Past Events

Webinar recording:

Webinar resources


Event details

2pm – 3pm | Tuesday 01 October

Emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time. They can be caused by severe weather, infectious diseases, industrial accidents, or by intentional acts, making it crucial for the health sector to plan and be prepared for these, as they may be high-impact, and often come unannounced.

Health districts and most health and disability service providers have a responsibility to respond to and provide health care for their communities during periods of emergencies under various Acts, regulations and national guidelines.

The ARRC contract say you must develop and implement a major incident and health emergency plan.

Cyclone Gabrielle highlighted the need for facilities to be as prepared as possible for whatever comes their way. From evacuating residents in the middle of the night, through to sourcing enough milk to make everyone a cup of tea, having a plan can make an emergency situation more doable and less stressful.

Join Andy Wisheart, Senior Advisor, North Island Business Continuity, Te Whatu Ora | Health NZ in this webinar, as he takes us through various aspects of implementing emergency management plans and best practices for ensuring business continuity.

This webinar will cover:

  • Health emergency legislation, regulations and national guidelines
  • Overview of all government emergency management
  • Emergency management specific to the health sector
  • Emergency management in the funded sector (specifically, ARC)
  • ARC’s role in emergency management

 

Presenter introduction: Andy Wisheart, Senior Advisor, North Island Business Continuity

Andy holds the Business Continuity Institute (MBCI) membership and has implemented BC projects for national and multinational organisations.

Andy spent 14 years as a front-line paramedic in NZ and the UK. Since then, he has been working in organisational resilience and health with five years as the Northern Region Primary Care Emergency Planning Managers, two years in health IT, two years as a business manager for surgical services in Greenlane Hospital, and six years as an organisational resilience consultant. He returned to Health Emergency Management in November 2022.

As the two branches of his career have been in health (clinical as well as non-clinical) and the organisational resilience sector, Andy joined the emergency management team at Te Whatu Ora | Health NZ. He is currently their national business continuity manager, bringing together his expertise in a role that he believes has real value in the continuation of Te Whatu Ora during disruption.

 

Assisted dying in ARC for health professionals and health service providers

By Past Events

Webinar recording:

2pm – 3pm | Tuesday 24 September 

Assisted dying has been available in Aotearoa New Zealand since 7 November 2021 under the End of Life Choice Act 2019 (the Act). It remains a sensitive topic that can evoke a range of emotional and personal responses, so requires a mindful and respectful approach. This webinar will cover various aspects of assisted dying, including:

  • Assisted dying legislation, eligibility & process
  • The Act and the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights
  • Who is choosing AD?
  • Working with the person choosing assisted dying, their whānau-family, friends, and caregivers
  • How hospices in NZ are working alongside the legislation
  • How assisted dying could work in aged residential care
  • Q & A

Presenter introduction: Wayne Naylor

Wayne Naylor is the Chief Executive of Hospice New Zealand, a position he has held since August 2022. Wayne is a Registered Nurse and has spent most of his 30-year nursing career working in oncology, haematology and palliative care in New Zealand and the United Kingdom and has held a number of senior nursing roles. Prior to joining Hospice New Zealand, Wayne spent 9 years as Director of Nursing at a Hospice Waikato, a large community hospice in Hamilton New Zealand.

Wayne completed his Nursing Diploma from Otago Polytechnic (NZ) in 1992 and a Bachelor of Science honours degree at The Royal Marsden NHS Trust in London in 2000.

After returning to New Zealand in 2002, Wayne undertook post graduate qualifications in palliative care and statistics, along with leadership development programmes.

 

Oral submission to the Health Select Committee on the ‘Inquiry into the aged care sector’s current and future capacity to provide support services for people experiencing neurological cognitive disorders’

By Advocacy and Policy

Hon. Tracey Martin emphasises that while “aging in place” is a goal, current funding and delivery models fall short of meeting future needs. She stresses that the sector is underfunded and increasingly unsustainable, driven by outdated policies and the exclusion of key stakeholders from redesign discussions. The ACA calls for a pause in the redesign process and the establishment of a comprehensive taskforce to ensure a sustainable, community-focused solution for elder care.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP MINISTER – LET US!

By Media Releases

The Aged Care Association is calling on the Government to follow the lead of Australia’s Minister for Aged Care and immediately create a taskforce from the aged care sector to assist them in addressing the immediate need to release pressure on hospital beds.

“The Government’s Nation-wide Service and Campus Planning report shows that without changes to the way we deliver safe and sustainable support to our growing senior community, by 2043, 9 out of 10 hospital beds will be filled by someone aged 65 or over,” says Aged Care Association CE Tracey Martin. “If the Government would work with those of us in the sector currently delivering care, we can help them develop a practical, workable and sustainable care continuum that will release some of this pressure. However, to date our offers to co-design have been ignored or dismissed.”

Ms Martin points to the work done by the Australian Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells, who not only formed an Aged Care Taskforce but personally chaired it herself. “That is a Minister who has taken the bull by the horns, and working with those on the frontline of community and residential care, delivered their report in March this year to the Australian Government. That report means that once again the Australians are a step ahead of us towards delivering a sustainable aged care system that provides high quality care to all Australians now and into the future.”

“We were very disappointed when the Associate Minister of Health with delegations for Aged Care declined our offer to travel to Australia in a cross-party delegation to gain a greater understanding of the changes implemented over the last two years by our Aussie neighbours,” Tracey continues. “We know the government is cash-strapped so our Association had offered to finance the visit, because our members are passionate about ensuring that the seniors of today and tomorrow are not left without the appropriate level of care or support just because this government wants to keep them out of a hospital bed.”

“We reiterate our concerns that Te Whatu Ora is designing a new care delivery model behind closed doors, with no provision for co-design.” Ms Martin points out “The Ageing Well Team has been instructed to save 200,000 bed nights per year in our hospitals. We join with our home and community colleagues to once again offer to work collaboratively with the Minister to ensure that we design a system that works for our seniors and communities, not just for Te Whatu Ora and cost savings.”

Aged Care Association raises concerns over respite bed cuts

By Media Releases

The recent decision by Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand to decommission the four flexi-beds used for respite care at the Rangiora Health Hub is deeply concerning for aged care providers and the community. The decision to reallocate the space at Rangiora Health Hub for other purposes should not come at the expense of essential respite care services.

The claim that there is adequate capacity within aged residential care facilities to absorb the demand for respite care is misleading. While North Canterbury does have several ARC facilities, only one of these says it has a single bed dedicated to respite care. Many of these providers are already operating at or near full capacity, and the availability of respite care is always conditional to beds being vacant between long-term residents.

We would also point out to Te Whatu Ora that Aged Residential Care providers are not compensated for the additional costs incurred in admitting and caring for short term, as compared to long term, residents. Additionally, providers are not funded to offer respite capacity, and so most providers must prioritise providing a bed to a long-term resident over respite requests.

The Aged Care Association strongly refutes the comments that Aged Residential Care facilities in North Canterbury have sufficient capacity to allow Te Whatu Ora to relieve itself of respite care responsibilities. Statements such as these continue to ignore the reality being faced daily by our members, and the removal of respite care services without ensuring there is long term sustainable alternative provision will instead place more pressure on already stretched families, whanau and caregivers.

It is essential to recognise the unique needs of those requiring respite care, and the vital support these services offer to maintain the wellbeing of both the caregivers and care recipients.

The Aged Care Association calls on Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and the Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey to work more collaboratively with the aged care sector to find sustainable solutions that address the real needs of the families and community.

Respite care is a critical service that provides temporary relief to caregivers, ensuring that individuals with complex health needs receive appropriate care in a supportive environment. This level of care often requires specialised staff and resources, which may not be readily available in all aged care facilities.

Government Housing Strategy must include seniors

By Media Releases

In Minister Bishop’s speech announcing future development and growth requirements for councils, he articulated his belief that a well-functioning housing market that delivers thriving cities, growing productivity, and super-charged industry will create a future that is bright for everyone. At the Aged Care Association, we want to ensure that the Government, both local and central, ensures that the future they envision creating is just as bright for New Zealand seniors.

Last year, the Retirement Commission reported a doubling of the number of retirees who will be forced to rent over the next 25 years. The 2023 review identified that 20 percent of those aged over 65 do not own their own homes. This figure is expected to jump to 40 percent, or 600,000 people, within the next 24 years.

“We would like to see some thought put into ‘circular house planning,’” said Aged Care Association CE, Tracey Martin. “What we mean by that is when councils are zoning for and consenting these new apartments proposed by the Minister, let’s ensure they can deliver for young couples just starting out on their lives together, starting their family; perhaps before they move into their next more spacious property. But these dwellings also need to acknowledge that one day those young, vibrant couples will also be aged and could need to return to a low maintenance, public-transport-accessible living place. As a country, let’s be smart about this and ensure that these smaller-sized homes are accessible for all, with wider doorways, wet rooms, and no steps – to name just a few design points.

“We also need local government and councils to ensure that their 30-year growth plans include development land earmarked for aged residential care,” said Ms. Martin. “This must include lifestyle provision for all sections of our society. Not all seniors can, will, or want to buy into a large, well-appointed retirement village. Not-for-profit and charitable village, rest home, and residential care facilities must be included in 30-year development and growth planning.”

Over the next 30 years, Aotearoa New Zealand’s population of seniors will grow from around 850,000 (17 percent of the population) to around 1.5 million (24 percent of the population), so any failure to plan for these New Zealanders when considering housing and health care delivery would be an unforgivable omission.