Aged care challenges need to be faced together
Nurse Maude has welcomed A Place to Grow Old as an important opportunity to rethink how New Zealand supports people as they age; moving from separate services and settings towards care that is connected around the person.
Nurse Maude CEO Louise Zacest says the report provides a clear description of the key challenges facing the aged care sector and provides direction and recommendations on what is needed to address these.
“As the report itself notes, these aren't challenges for the future – they are already here. We welcome the recognition that significant reform is needed, and that we need to start this work now.”
“We are pleased to see the breadth of recommendations and the focus on ensuring we have an aged care system that can respond to the changing needs of New Zealanders.”
“Aged care can’t be somebody else's issue. We all have parents, grandparents, friends and whānau who will need support as they age – and one day we will need it ourselves.”
“Supporting people as they age is something that involves the whole whanau. It includes health, social and cultural needs. That means conversation about the future of aged care need to extend well beyond the health sector.”
“As a provider of in home, nursing, residential care and palliative services, Nurse Maude agrees that there is a significant opportunity to better integrate services and funding to meet the growing needs of our communities.”
“Nurse Maude welcomes the release of this report. We look forward to being part of the work to build a sustainable system that provides older New Zealanders with the care and support they need.”
