COLUMN | Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora have decided not to reopen Ziman House, a 12-bed hospital-level aged residential care (ARC) facility that closed in April 2022 in the West Coast township of Reefton.
Acknowledging the potential disappointment for Ziman House staff and Reefton residents, particularly in light of prior assurances regarding the facility's reopening upon recruitment of nursing staff, Health NZ carefully considered the available options before arriving at this challenging decision. This decision-making process involved weighing the needs of the Reefton community against rural and aging well strategies and directives.
Regrettably, it became evident that all levels of aged residential care at Ziman House needed to be more feasible and sustainable from both a workforce and financial standpoint for Health NZ. Ziman House's infrastructure was deemed unfit for serving as a modern ARC facility, with its layout not conducive to supporting the nursing model of care typically administered in such facilities. Substantial investment would be required to bring Ziman House up to appropriate standards, a course of action deemed not to be the optimal use of funding.
Despite improvements in recruitment and retention efforts, recruiting a sustainable nursing workforce in Reefton proved challenging. Securing suitably experienced ARC nurses and ARC clinical leads across the West Coast remained particularly difficult.
Furthermore, the cost of Ziman House beds was deemed unsustainable for Health NZ, being four times the average cost of rest home-level care and nearly three times the average cost of hospital-level care.
Health NZ remained committed to ensuring that Reefton, along with all rural towns, had safe and sustainable services for older residents and their families to thrive as they age.
Health NZ is steadfast in its commitment to exploring alternative community models of care that have proven successful in other rural communities throughout New Zealand. The aim is to strengthen and adapt these models for Reefton, in recognition of the growing preference of older individuals to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. Health NZ has outlined existing community service options for older residents in Reefton, demonstrating its ongoing support and efforts.
Looking ahead, Health NZ is committed to consulting with the community in the coming weeks on options for new services to support older people in Reefton. This consultation process will include discussions on potential services such as transport to the Westport rest home, shopping transportation, a community day activity program, and in-home respite support. This clear roadmap for community involvement and decision-making ensures that the community's voice will be heard and considered in shaping the care framework for Reefton's aging population.
While the decision was undoubtedly challenging, Health NZ aimed to provide certainty and expressed gratitude to the Reefton Health Action Group for their dedication to the community and willingness to explore viable solutions collaboratively. Ultimately, Health NZ sought community involvement in shaping the care framework for Reefton's aging population and planned to organise a series of public meetings to gather input on community needs.
Attributed to: Andy Inder, Director Ageing Well – National Commissioning, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.
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