Aged Residential Care: Delivering Quality and Choice - Is It possible?

The gap between what consumers want and what government subsidy covers will be addressed at the 2011 New Zealand Aged Care Association Conference in Auckland, 29-31 August.

Political leaders, researchers and sector experts gather to address the gap between what baby boomers are expecting from aged care and what they are likely to get given the current policy and funding framework.

Top New Zealand and international experts gather in Auckland, 29-31 August.

Tony Ryall, Don Brash, Winston Peters among the politicians.

“If we don’t change something, there will be no choice for baby boomers and they will have to accept a multi-bed ward or no care at all. They cannot keep the same generous asset testing regime and expect the government to fund large rooms with ensuites.” And that’s the official line from the CEO of the New Zealand Aged Care Association, Martin Taylor.

This seminal sector event is the New Zealand Aged Care Association conference: ‘Delivering quality and choice: is this possible and affordable?’

It’s the gap between financial reality and consumer wants that will be addressed at the 2011 New Zealand Aged Care Association Conference in Auckland, 29-31 August.

Politicians have responded to the situation by agreeing to present and answer questions:

Don Brash, Act

Peter Dunne, United Future

Steve Chadwick, Labour

Sue Kedgley, Greens

Winston Peters, NZ First

So what’s gone wrong with aged care

People’s expectations have gone up while real funding has stagnated. As the baby boomer blip dominates the aged-care radar, it’s all turned into a unique and ‘perfect’ storm.

1960s resthomes
“Individual rooms were mostly less than eight square metres, but also plenty of multi-bed rooms,” says Taylor. “When 24-hour care was needed, the resident was the most likely moved into a public, institutional geriatric ward.”

1990s resthomes
“Regulations specified a required room size of no less than six square metres per person with shared bathroom facilities.”

Now
“The sector has built larger rooms. Average rooms are around 10 square metres, without ensuites.”

The future
“Many grey consumers want a large room of at least 15 square metres in a modern facility plus an ensuite; with another 30 square metres of common area per person. The current subsidy covers somewhat less.”