Inside story: Concern at issues older Kiwis face

Should we be looking after our elderly much better than we do? PHOTO/FILE

In the lead-up to the election we’re taking a look at some of the issues Kiwis care about, and how the political parties aim to tackle them. Today, Cassandra Mason explores the issues of elder care and asks how we are serving our seniors

Cases of elder abuse and neglect are becoming more frequent, many at the hands of family members, with Age Concern's elder abuse and neglect prevention services finding the numbers rose from 515 in 2006/7 to 583 in 2010/11.

While elder abuse can be physical, psychological or sexual, the most common form is financial abuse from people in a position of trust. Manifestations of this are varied, and can range from family members moving in to exploiting the facilities on offer to someone using a power of attorney to siphon off money.

Physical neglect is another form of abuse. Hawke's Bay woman Joanne Quinn was jailed this year for neglecting her 82-year-old mother, found embedded in a couch with rotting leg wounds.

Age Concern NZ chief executive Robyn Scott says such abuse has a "detrimental" impact on older people's health and well-being, often compromising their ability to live independently.

Labour has promised to establish a commissioner should it gain power, saying funding could come from the Retirement Commissioner's $5.7 million budget.

The Government funds 24 elder-abuse services at a cost of $1.6 million a year. But advocates want more financial support for these networks and funding to combat social isolation among older people in their communities.

Dementia issue

Alzheimer's New Zealand executive director Catherine Hall says about 50,000 people have dementia, a figure tipped to triple by 2050.

"These numbers will be extremely challenging for the New Zealand healthcare system and economy," Ms Hall says.

"If we are going to meet that challenge, we need to work together across government, private providers and the not-for-profit sector, we need to work hard, and that work needs to start now."

Alzheimer's NZ is calling for political parties to front up with their policies on how they plan to manage our "most significant and growing healthcare challenge".

"Last year saw the first ever [G7] Dementia summit take place in the UK, followed by the appointment of a World Dementia Envoy and a World Dementia Council. There is now a call for countries outside of the G7, including New Zealand, to take up the challenge," Ms Hall says.

Dementia is not the only health concern for the over-65s.

Older people also face high costs for health care and medical aids for the likes of eye tests and lens prescriptions, hearing aids, dental care, scans and x-rays.

The caregivers

A rapidly growing elderly population will need to be looked after and Aged Care NZ chief executive Martin Taylor says the single biggest challenge is caregivers' wages.

The difference between what DHB caregivers are paid, and the Government funding available for Aged Care workers is about $2 an hour.

"It certainly makes it more difficult to attract staff to the aged-care sector and we are a sector that is growing faster than any other part of the health sector, so we need to attract staff and keep staff."

Parties to support Aged Care NZ's proposal that the minimum wage for caregivers be increased from $15.31 to $17.50 over three years include Labour, Green, Act, Conservative, and NZ First.

Mr Taylor says National and the Maori Party are not on board: "We have a high turnover rate because we train [staff] and then the DHB takes them. That situation is creating a real problem for us."

Aged Care NZ says New Zealand has 651 residential care facilities and a combined total of 35,965 beds. A 2010 review estimated demand would reach 44,000 to 52,000 beds by 2026.

Benefits

The over-65s are entitled to a SuperGold card, with discounts on travel, goods and services. However, a proposed review next year is looking at scrapping some of the benefits.

New Zealand First has lashed out at the review, promising to negotiate a 10 per cent discount on power bills during winter and three free GP visits a year for over-65s.

Grey Power last year launched Grey Power Energy - a deal done with Pulse Energy that secured a 10 per cent discount on power bills for the group's 60,000-odd members.

But most pensioners struggle to make ends meet. Ms Scott says the elderly need to be seen as an asset.

More than 30 per cent of over-65s are volunteers, another 21 per cent are still working and a sizeable chunk are the primary carers for sick husbands, wives or partners.

"How can the future government re-frame the conversation to show how much of an asset older people are to New Zealand?" she asks.

Election promises

National will put an additional $170,000 towards opening new elder-abuse specialist services in Rotorua and Wairoa. National has resisted calls to raise the superannuation age from 65.

Labour has promised free GP visits for over-65s and pledged to establish an Aged Care Commissioner to investigate claims of elder abuse, neglect and financial mismanagement. It also wants to raise the superannuation age to 67, as do the Greens.

NZ First says it will extend the benefits of the SuperGold Card, including a 10 per cent discount on power for over-65s in winter and three free GP visits a year.

Act wants a referendum on the superannuation age, pointing to Australia's pledge to raise theirs to 70 by 2035.

United Future wants to look at introducing a carer's allowance for stay-at-home caregivers, and introduce a free annual health check-up to over-65s.

The Maori Party, Conservative, Mana and The Internet Party didn't have any policies listed on their websites as of August 13.