Exploring the gaps
Across this guide we have noted gaps that existed in the support available for older New Zealanders.
Some of these gaps are well known, difficult and intricate problems. Many others have been noticed but not recognised widely – these may be unintended consequences, the result of impacts not being considered, and/ or challenges that we will face due to changing demographics.
We believe that it’s crucial that these gaps are researched, understood, and addressed to ensure an equity of support for all.
Below, we highlight major, overarching gaps, through our Te Whāriki lens. After that, you can see
specific gaps identified by our membership in working groups convened for the development of this report. These will not be all the gaps in the structures currently working to empower older people in New Zealand.
We genuinely believe that we are currently facing a national lack of preparedness for the growing cohort of older people.
Stats NZ have created the graphs below to highlight just how much we expect our population distribution to change. We also believe that this inaction is driven by structural ageism – a failure to consider and address the needs of older people at a systemic level. We don’t suggest that this is intentional or by design, however our failure to address it is leading us to a crisis.
The time to act, is now.
Long-term projections from Stats NZ
Major areas to focus on
We see the following opportunities for positive change, within each of the Te Whāriki principles.
1. Commitment to including older people in making decisions that impact them
2. Greater consideration and visibility of this cohort in decision-making, key strategies and policy settings
3. Better implementation and utilisation of what exists in legislation, strategies and frameworks.
4. Increase accessibility and reach of research, and value and fund innovation
5. Increase accessibility to evaluation
6. Support scaling up of therapies and practices, research and resources.
7. Address needs of a more effective continuum of care for older people
8. Strengthen intergenerational relationships at a social and community level
9. Create communities with older people’ s needs at the centre.
10. Increase understanding of and responses to elder abuse and isolation
11. Focus on and act to solve entrenched workforce issues
12. Develop and deliver targeted education and training.
Other gaps to be addressed
These issues are being seen by our members who are working within their communities.
