NEW ZEALAND | Waiting until an older person reaches a crisis can leave hospitals, residential care providers, and families carrying more intensive care responsibilities.
Presbyterian Support Northern’s Enliven Home and Disability Support Services has called for greater investment in earlier support, arguing that ageing at home needs to become a national priority.
In a statement marking International Day of Older Persons on 1 October, Enliven general manager Wendy Hoskin urged the Government to strengthen community-based care and ensure funding reflected demand and the cost of delivery.
“New Zealand must shift its focus from responding to crises to supporting people earlier and more effectively in their homes,” said Hoskin.
Hoskin said remaining at home helped older people maintain their connections with familiar routines, communities, and whānau. She also called for more practical assistance, training, and respite for family members and unpaid carers whose support helped make this possible.
Enliven cited its own Social Return on Investment report, which estimated that its home-based support services generated $112.4 million in social value, equivalent to $4.33 for every dollar invested. The figures describe estimated social value, rather than a financial return to the provider or an equivalent saving in government expenditure.
The organisation’s earlier work offers an example of the support required behind each home visit. In July, Enliven described a rapid-response team providing telephone advice to support workers concerned about clients.
The service combined non-clinical guidance with access to a registered nurse for high-risk situations. Examples included falls, medication concerns, and a person living with dementia who was absent when a worker arrived for an appointment. The team helped workers decide what to do next and escalate concerns.
For providers, that example brings the funding argument beyond the time spent in a client’s home. Advice, clinical oversight, and a clear response when circumstances change also need resources. Enliven’s call raises a practical question for funding decisions: how much support is available before a person’s needs become urgent, and who carries the responsibility when it is insufficient?
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