New government Carers’ Strategy launched
Along with Carers NZ and the Carers Alliance, we welcome the Government’s new five-year Action Plan, aimed at better supporting New Zealand’s 490,000+ family, whanau, and aiga carers.
The Mahi Aroha Action Plan covers the 2020-2024 period and outlines key areas of focus to make carers’ lives easier. These include helping carers have respite breaks, and improved support for working age carers, young carers, older carers, Māori and Pacific carers, and those who become isolated and lonely due to their caring role. Mental health and addiction is another area of focus in the Action Plan.
Alzheimers NZ is a member of the Carers Alliance, which was established in 2004 as a coalition of not-for-profits working together towards big picture outcomes for carers, a growing population of New Zealanders who care at home for loved ones who are elderly, unwell, have a disability or chronic condition, or support someone who has had a life-changing injury.
The Carers Alliance was part of developing the national Strategy for carers, a role all New Zealanders can expect to have or be part of during their lives. The new five-year Action Plan is the third since the Carers’ Strategy was introduced in 2008.
The new Action Plan includes improvements to the quality and availability of respite services so that carers can take a break.
Catherine Hall, Chief Executive of Alzheimers NZ says, “Dementia will become a major issue for New Zealand in coming years. So we need to put in place measures now to support all the carers who will be looking after people who are living with dementia.”
“Being able to take a break and have access to respite services is very important for carers’ health and wellbeing and can help address social isolation and loneliness in carers.”
As such, is very important that the Mahi Aroha Action Plan be more than words. It needs to be fully implemented and resourced to make a difference for people living with dementia and care partners.
It is great to see that 11 Ministers from a range of Government agencies have signed the new Carers’ Strategy Action Plan. This demonstrates a broad government commitment to carers.
Along with the Carers Alliance, we look forward to working with all of the Ministries, Ministers, and departments to monitor the delivery of Action Plan outcomes.