development and smarter models of people on low incomes and people with working. disabilities. We will prioritise reducing health inequalities and other adverse outcomes for Primary health and home and community people with long-term term conditions for support services are well placed to take a those agencies funding and delivering greater role in the care and support of services to this group. people who need assistance to remain living at home. However, in the case of home care, Our vision for living well with we could better align service models, longterm conditions funding methods and levels of training, to allow a greater level of involvement. At Improved methods of early detection and present, the home and community prevention mean that fewer older people workforce is fragile. Jobs in this sector are are affected by long-term conditions or generally characterised by low pay, irregular frailty. working hours and variable access to Older people with long-term conditions training, which contributes to high staff retain the highest level of mental and turnover. physical function possible; they enjoy life, and their communities respect them. We will invest in this workforce, and develop service and funding models that support a Older people with long-term conditions sustainable, culturally appropriate and have a range of tools and primary health person-centred approach to the support of care coordination and support to enable older people, including people with them to live well with their conditions. longterm conditions. Older people with long-term conditions are ‘health smart’ and are actively Family and whānau their conditions to a practical and comfortable level, making living well Family and whānau carers play a vital role in with long-term conditions closer to home providing support for older people with more accessible. long-term conditions. We will ensure that such carers receive the support they need. The workforce that supports older people This will include training and information, as and their families to manage their well as respite care so that they can look conditions, including the primary after their own wellbeing, particularly in and wider health workforce, home and relation to their mental health. Family and community support services and family whānau carers should not be in a position in and whānau carers, has appropriate which they become isolated because of their resources, structures and training. caring role. Health outcomes for vulnerable older populations with long-term conditions Priority populations are equitable with outcomes for the population as a whole. Long-term conditions contribute to the higher rates of illness, disability and death experienced by Māori, Pacific peoples,
development and smarter models of working. Primary health and home and community support services are well placed to take a greater role in the care and support of people who need assistance to remain living at home. However, in the case of home care, we could better align service models, funding methods and levels of training, to allow a greater level of involvement. At present, the home and community workforce is fragile. Jobs in this sector are generally characterised by low pay, irregular working hours and variable access to training, which contributes to high staff turnover. We will invest in this workforce, and develop service and funding models that support a sustainable, culturally appropriate and person-centred approach to the support of older people, including people with longterm conditions. Family and whānau Family and whānau carers play a vital role in providing support for older people with long-term conditions. We will ensure that such carers receive the support they need. This will include training and information, as well as respite care so that they can look after their own wellbeing, particularly in relation to their mental health. Family and whānau carers should not be in a position in which they become isolated because of their caring role. Priority populations Long-term conditions contribute to the higher rates of illness, disability and death experienced by Māori, Pacific peoples, people on low incomes and people with disabilities. We will prioritise reducing health inequalities and other adverse outcomes for people with long-term term conditions for those agencies funding and delivering services to this group. Our vision for living well with longterm conditions Improved methods of early detection and prevention mean that fewer older people are affected by long-term conditions or frailty. Older people with long-term conditions retain the highest level of mental and physical function possible; they enjoy life, and their communities respect them. Older people with long-term conditions have a range of tools and primary health care coordination and support to enable them to live well with their conditions. Older people with long-term conditions are ‘health smart’ and are actively their conditions to a practical and comfortable level, making living well with long-term conditions closer to home more accessible. The workforce that supports older people and their families to manage their conditions, including the primary and wider health workforce, home and community support services and family and whānau carers, has appropriate resources, structures and training. Health outcomes for vulnerable older populations with long-term conditions are equitable with outcomes for the population as a whole.
health-older-people-strategy-consultation-draft-july2016-v2.docx