A review of New Zealand's aged care system has been welcomed by Alzheimer's NZ CEO Catherine Hall.
Alzheimer's NZ has welcomed the update from Health NZ on what it described as the long overdue review of Aotearoa New Zealand’s aged care system, as well as two related industry-focused reports.
Chief Executive Catherine Hall said the reports have reinforced the size and scale of the challenges currently facing the health sector as a result of our rapidly growing ageing population.
Alzheimer's NZ has long raised these issues and offered solutions to improve support for people with dementia and their families.
Hall welcomed the acknowledgement from Health NZ that there needed to be more work done in order to focus on community-based services and dementia, and she looked forward to discussing that with them next month.
“The reports are comprehensive, and what is immediately clear is that the need for action by Health NZ is now urgent. If nothing is done impact on the wider health sector will only worsen – we’ve seen evidence of that in some tragic incidents recently and then just this week with the reports about the ward in North Shore Hospital.”
Alzheimer's NZ has demanded urgent action from the government in three essential areas.
First, progressively implement and fund the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan. Secondly, properly fund New Zealand’s 17 community-based dementia support services. Thirdly, create a bespoke health strategy to provide quality, integrated and accessible services with an integrated continuum of care.
“Taking those two steps would reduce the number of New Zealanders who develop dementia and provide better support for those who do, while relieving growing pressure on the health system and lowering future costs to Government.”
Hall said dementia mate wareware really is a health sector priority that can no longer be ignored.
“It’s fiscally irresponsible not to do something about the dementia epidemic facing this country.”
Alzheimer's NZ is looking forward to seeing the final IDEA report in due course.
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