Dementia must be central to aged care reform

Alzheimers NZ says dementia must be front and centre of any reforms that follow the Health Select Committee inquiry into aged care support services for people with neurological cognitive disorders. 

Chief Executive Catherine Hall said the organisation welcomed Associate Health Minister Hon Casey Costello’s commitment to improving aged care services. 

“We welcome the Minister’s commitment to building a more fit-for-purpose aged care system and her recognition of the important role community services and primary care play in helping older New Zealanders live independently at home for longer,” Hall said. 

“But dementia is one of the fastest-growing drivers of demand across our health and aged care systems, and it needs to be central to these discussions.” 

Hall said Alzheimers NZ was concerned the Select Committee’s report did not fully reflect the scale, complexity and urgency of dementia in New Zealand. 

“The report recognises the need to expand residential and dementia-specific care capacity, but it places too little emphasis on the community services that play a critical role in helping people remain independent for longer, easing pressure on hospitals and residential care. 

“These services are specifically designed to support people living with dementia and their whānau to navigate the condition and continue living in their own communities. 

“But right now, more than 35,000 New Zealanders living with dementia are unable to access essential community support services. That unmet need undermines people’s ability to live well at home and adds avoidable pressure on aged residential care and hospital services.”  

Hall said meaningful reform must also address the full continuum of care, including prevention, risk reduction, timely diagnosis, primary care and community-based dementia support. 

“We were encouraged to hear Minister Costello speak about the importance of building a better integrated continuum of care that enables older New Zealanders to live independently for longer. 

“That direction is absolutely the right one, but it will only succeed if community dementia services are properly resourced and consistently available across the country.” 

With the number of New Zealanders living with dementia expected to grow significantly over the coming decades, Hall said the inquiry created an important opportunity to ensure the health and aged care systems are prepared. 

“We look forward to working constructively with the Minister and the sector to ensure the next steps deliver a dementia-capable system that supports people living with dementia and their whānau.”