Last year we also heard a Gore general practitioner concerned that lack of beds close to home for difficult dementia patients meant they were being sedated so they could stay in lower level care beds, a situation not desirable or safe.
Governments of both stripes in recent years have spent much time producing reports telling them the current provision of aged care is not good enough and that the demand for services is only going to increase with our ageing population.
One such report was produced by the health select committee late last year.
Its investigation of the sector reiterated that the rapidly ageing population, coupled with a rising incidence of neurological conditions such as dementia, was increasing demand for services.
Further, this trend was compounded by growing complexities including social challenges, substance abuse, issues of consent, family conflict and abuse and neglect.
It is estimated there will be about 170,000 people with dementia in New Zealand by 2050, compared with about 70,000 five years ago.
Coming up with reports with sets of recommendations is easy.
However, there seems to be much procrastination about developing a comprehensive way of dealing effectively with all the issues that go with our ageing population.
There is no denying it is complex and expensive.
How does the system provide appropriate and consistent care for those throughout the country who wish to stay at home "ageing in place", and at the same time ensure there are enough residential care, hospital level and dementia care beds in both rural and urban areas when they are needed?
The answer, we have repeatedly been told, is a new model of care which places greater emphasis on community-based care for long-term patients and focuses inpatient services at the new hospital on acute mental health needs.
But we are not aware there is yet any fostering of more development of community-based care.
Existing providers have made it clear for years they are finding it hard to find and retain staff and are struggling to make ends meet. One of the ways they wring extra money out of those who have no choice but to use their services is by charging extra for "premium" spaces — rooms which are larger, better situated, or have ensuites.
In October, the government announced yet another review — this time a ministerial advisory group to recommend changes to the funding model, including ensuring it can support a sustainable supply of aged care beds.
It is not due to report back until the middle of this year, with any changes agreed not introduced until next year.
It is not clear how well the group’s views might align with the recommendations from the select committee which ask the government to consider a range of funding and financial tools to address the shortfall of aged residential care beds and more dementia beds.
Among the possibilities suggested by the committee are capital grants, depreciation incentives, consent relief, anchor contracts and National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Ltd funding.
The committee also recommends the government "continues to work to reduce gender-based pay discrimination in the aged care sector".
Those working in the sector still reeling from the government’s shock sneaky changes to the pay equity law last year might be surprised to read that.
Nurses in the sector still do not have full pay parity with their Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora counterparts, despite Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s television debate promise before the 2023 election. The pay equity claim of care workers was also scuppered by last year’s law change.
If any funding reforms do not address this, and urgently, it is difficult to see how much can change.
