Grey Power September 2019

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NZ GREYPOWER MAGAZINE » SEPTEMBER 2019
LOBBY REPORT 2019 – PART 2
From page 27
Response from Hon M. Barry,
National Party
Suicide rate
“This topic is a major concern in the Seniors
survey – in fact, a recent University
of Auckland survey found that:
• Between 2008 and 2017, 32 per
100,000 men aged 85 and more
committed suicide.
• People older than 65 are more likely
to report physical illness as a stressor,
have a history of depression and
be diagnosed with depression at the
time of their self-harming.
• Older people are more likely to selfharm
with suicidal intent, their suicide
more likely to be fatal and 82
percent happen at home.
• No Maori detected in senior group.
• Issues currently causing concern are
elder abuse, neglect was a worry, and
loneliness.
• National treats funding for mental
health as a priority, and during its
last term increased funding from
$1.1 billion to more than $1.4 billion.
This included a new $100 million
social investment funding that supports
new proposals to tackle mental
health issues.
Undiagnosed and untreated depression
• As above, the NZ Medical Council
says there is evidence that older
people who kill themselves are
more likely than younger people to
have major depression at the time of
death.
• Reviewing coroners’ files found
that commonly, in cases of late
life suicide, circumstances (physical
illnesses or distressing situations)
appeared to have precipitated
suicidal feelings.
• Increased attention to health and
welfare needs and to feelings of emotional
deprivation among older and/
or disabled people may have reduced
suicide risk.
• Expansion of health services organised
specifically for elderly people
with physical problems (such as pain,
breathlessness and fatigue) and for
people requiring palliative care may
well have reduced the hopelessness
that can precipitate suicide. Reports
suggest that health workers and interventionists
are better trained and
able these days to provide appropriate
help, whether biological, psychological
or environmental, thus helping
to maintain self-esteem.
• The low suicide rate among older
Māori has been attributed to their
feeling more valued and being given
more meaningful roles and status
than non-indigenous older New Zealand
people.
Society’s reaction to elder suicide
• Our understanding of mental health
and addiction issues has evolved in
recent times, and the focus of mental
health has moved from deinstitutionalisation
to de-stigmatisation.
We are now moving towards an emphasis
on mental wellness, resilience
and new ways of providing access to
health services.
• National launched in its last term a
new and modern mental health and
addiction approach, supported by
$224m in funding.”
TRAVEL ALLOWANCE FOR
CARERS RE THE RATE TO BE
INCREASED TO THE CURRENT
IRD RATE OF 73 CENTS PER KM
FROM THE CURRENT RATE OF
50 CENTS PER KM
Response from the Hon J Salesa,
Associate Minister of Health
“I note your recommendation that the
rate for travel allowance for carers be
increased to $0.73 per km. Home and
Community Support workers are highly
valued in supporting older people to
live in their community. At this time,
the Ministry has informed me that an
increase in the mileage rate isn’t affordable.
It is something that will be
reviewed again in May 2020.
I know that this is disappointing.
However, it’s important to note that approximately
$160m per annum of additional
funding has gone into home and
community support workers’ wages
since the implementation of In Between
Travel & Pay Equity settlements.
Response from Hon M. Barry,
National Party
Travel allowance for carers
“According to Work and Income, a Disability
Allowance helps to pay for extra
costs relating to medical and health
needs, household running, garden
maintenance, equipment and supplies,
and travel for health reasons.”
UTILISATION OF THE INTERRAI
ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT
A request that a mandated six-monthly
review of the interRai assessment
of home care occurs, the same as rest
homes, and that the DHB NASC should
provide the level of care as assessed on
a case-mix basis over the whole country.
The NASC should not be able to
reduce care hours if no interRAI assessment
has been done. NB - the initial
home care assessment does not appear
to have a follow up procedure.
Response from the Hon J Salesa,
Associate Minister of Health:
“In regards to your suggestions around
the interRAl assessment, support
provided to individuals is based on
assessed needs. If needs change, as
identified through assessment and reassessment,
the provided support will
also change.
I am advised that the Ministry is
aware that currently most DHBs require
an annual re-assessment of all
those in receipt of Home and Community
Support Services. Many DHBs
also require contact assessments to
take place during the year to check for
changes in condition. If care workers
identify changes in the condition of an
individual, these are communicated to
care providers who may then undertake
a detailed reassessment. At this time,
there are no plans to introduce a mandate
for six-monthly interRAl home
care assessments. Home Care Administration
across the Country.
You may be interested to know
that the Ministry, in partnership with
DHBs, is developing a National Framework
for home and community support.
This National Framework is expected
to be finalised and approved in
July 2019. This work has identified the
need to establish a consistent case-mix
system across the country. A consistent
and agreed case-mix methodology for
use across all DHBs will consequently
be developed. I understand this work is
currently being planned, with the aim
of having an agreed approach ready for
Continued on page 30
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