Campaign with us
Dementia mate wareware is a major and growing health problem for Aotearoa New Zealand. With no clinical breakthroughs, an ageing population, and more people developing dementia mate wareware, this issue has our country in its grip.
This problem centres on the rapidly growing number of dementia mate wareware cases, and the inadequate Government funding for the dementia mate wareware sector over many years.
Currently, three people develop dementia mate wareware every hour, or over 500 a week, in Aotearoa New Zealand. Around 83,000 Kiwis live with dementia mate wareware in 2025 and this number is set to 170,000 by 2050.
Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities will be affected the most, creating major health inequalities. One in four New Zealanders will die with dementia mate wareware.
If nothing changes, dementia mate wareware will cost the country $10.65 billion a year by 2050 in inflation-adjusted cost.
37,600 people with dementia can’t get the community support they need right now. More and more people need support, but many cannot get the help they need.
There are three key actions by Government could take now to help:
- Progressively implement and fund the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan 2026-2031
- Fund community-based dementia services appropriately to deliver early and ongoing support and relieve rapidly growing pressure on the health system
- Create and implement an older persons’ health and aged care strategy based on an integrated continuum of care.
Making the Case and its inserts highlight how an integrated care approach for older people can make transitions between health system and community care smoother.
You can support us to campaign for these changes using the actions below or check out our Position papers and 10 Key messages. There is also other evidence to support your campaign.
