a. Develop standard referral and discharge protocols between aged residential care facilities, pharmacists, primary care (including providers of after-hours services and medicines advice), ambulance and hospital services. b. Explore options for providing telephone advice and triage for aged residential care facilities, especially after hours. c. Ensure systems, resources and training are in place allowing aged residential care facilities to communicate with and involve family and at the point whānau of discharge from hospital or where urgent care is needed. d. ARC homes to provide rehabilitation (similar to 11.g). Explore options for aged residential care facilities to become providers of a wider range of services to older people, including non-residents. 20. Improve medicines management b. Implement pharmacist-led medicines reviews for older people with high needs receiving home and community support services and those in aged residential care. c. Ensure models of care and contractual arrangements provide equitable access to medicines management services targeting people receiving medicines and/or polypharmacy, people in aged residential care and older people with complex health needs living in their own homes. 23. Build a greater palliative care workforce closer to home a. Work with professional colleges, DHBs and training bodies to ensure that core elements of end-of-life care (such as aligning treatment with a patient’s goals, basic symptom management and psychosocial support) are an integral part of standard practice for all relevant health professionals and health care workers. 24. Much more work needs to be done with the sector before any actions under this point can be implemented. Improve the quality and effectiveness of palliative care Conclusion The Health of Older People Strategy: Consultation draft is a comprehensive document with many sound recommendations on how the health of older people will be managed in New Zealand over the next ten years. The NZACA supports many aspects of this document. However, The NZACA feels strongly that there is not enough focus on aged residential care within the strategy. While we understand this current government is focussing heavily on in there is and will continue to be a need for the provision of higher level care “Ageing place”, to many older people in New Zealand. These people are assessed as being unable to remain at home and require more care than can be provided through the home and community support service. End. Submission 153 withheld at submitter’s request Submission 154
a. Develop standard referral and discharge protocols between aged residential care facilities, pharmacists, primary care (including providers of after-hours services and medicines advice), ambulance and hospital services. b. Explore options for providing telephone advice and triage for aged residential care facilities, especially after hours. c. Ensure systems, resources and training are in place allowing aged residential care facilities to communicate with and involve family and whānau at the point of discharge from hospital or where urgent care is needed. d. ARC homes to provide rehabilitation (similar to 11.g). Explore options for aged residential care facilities to become providers of a wider range of services to older people, including non-residents. 20. Improve medicines management b. Implement pharmacist-led medicines reviews for older people with high needs receiving home and community support services and those in aged residential care. c. Ensure models of care and contractual arrangements provide equitable access to medicines management services targeting people receiving medicines and/or polypharmacy, people in aged residential care and older people with complex health needs living in their own homes. 23. Build a greater palliative care workforce closer to home a. Work with professional colleges, DHBs and training bodies to ensure that core elements of end-of-life care (such as aligning treatment with a patient’s goals, basic symptom management and psychosocial support) are an integral part of standard practice for all relevant health professionals and health care workers. 24. Much more work needs to be done with the sector before any actions under this point can be implemented. Improve the quality and effectiveness of palliative care Conclusion The Health of Older People Strategy: Consultation draft is a comprehensive document with many sound recommendations on how the health of older people will be managed in New Zealand over the next ten years. The NZACA supports many aspects of this document. However, The NZACA feels strongly that there is not enough focus on aged residential care within the strategy. While we understand this current government is focussing heavily on “Ageing in place”, there is and will continue to be a need for the provision of higher level care to many older people in New Zealand. These people are assessed as being unable to remain at home and require more care than can be provided through the home and community support service. End. Submission 153 withheld at submitter’s request Submission 154
hop-submissions-e-152-185.docx