Source: Alzheimers New Zealand
Alzheimers NZ welcomes the update today from Health NZ on the long overdue review of Aotearoa New Zealand’s aged care system as well as two related reports.
Chief Executive Catherine Hall says the reports reinforce the size and scale of the challenge facing the health sector as a result of our rapidly growing ageing population.
Alzheimers NZ has long raised these issues and offered solutions to improve support for people with dementia and their families.
Catherine welcomes the acknowledgment from Health NZ that they need to do more to focus on community-based services and dementia and looks forward to discussing that with them next month.
“The reports are comprehensive and what is immediately clear is 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.”
Alzheimers NZ wants urgent government action in three 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.
