Advocacy

Almost 70,000 Kiwis are living with dementia today.

Almost 170,000 Kiwis are likely to be living with dementia by 2050

4 out of 5 New Zealanders know or have known someone living with dementia.

Dementia impacts more women than men – around 30% higher

The total cost of dementia to NZ is now around $2.5b and will reach around $5.9b by 2050

Residential care currently accounts for around half of the economic cost of dementia borne by government ($1.21b).

Dementia numbers are increasing at a faster rate among Māori, Pasifika and Asian populations than those of European New Zealanders.

Care partners provide over 1 million hours of unpaid care every week.

This five year National Dementia Plan is the result of a collaboration between Alzheimers NZ, the New Zealand Dementia Cooperative, the Mate Wareware Advisory Rōpū and Dementia New Zealand, with the voices and input of over 300 individuals and groups. The plan focuses on the most urgent actions to better support people living with dementia.

In our Briefing to the Incoming Minister of Health Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall, we have urged Government to stem the worst impacts of the looming health crisis.

To do that, Government must act now and do these two things urgently:

• Implement and fund the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan (the Plan) to reduce the rapidly growing incidence of dementia mate wareware among New Zealanders and provide better support for those diagnosed with the condition.
• Provide $9 million per year to stabilise community dementia mate wareware support services. Many of these services are on the brink of financial collapse.

Alzheimers NZ strongly supports the Budget Policy Statement’s prioritisation of the recovery and rebuild from Covid-19. However, despite its laudable goals, the Budget Policy Statement is totally and astonishingly silent on dementia. There are significant budget policy implications associated with our ageing population and the increase in dementia. Our submission contains recommendations for Budget 2021 to reduce the rapidly growing economic impact of dementia.

The Carers’ Strategy Action Plan 2019–2023 includes a range of actions to improve the wellbeing of the one in 10 New Zealanders who care for a loved one with a disability, health condition, illness or injury. The Plan includes a new focus on target populations (Māori, Pacific, young and older carers) and a family, whānau, aiga-centred approach will form part of the implementation approach.

This report highlights why the voices and experiences of people living with dementia must be a critical component within the policy making process, and provides some great examples of what that looks like in practice. This includes how our Advisory Group here in New Zealand has strengthened the work we do. We are strongly supportive of DAI’s work over the years to bring the voice of people living with dementia to policy making around the world.

The Better Later Life Action Plan from Tari Kaumātua Office for Seniors sets out the Government’s priorities and commitments to deliver the Better Later Life – He Oranga Kaumātua strategy over the next three years.