The Aged Care Commissioner provides a focal point for addressing quality and safety issues for older people by advocating for better services on their behalf and their family or whānau. This work includes monitoring care standards and providing strategic oversight to ensure better services.
The Aged Care Commissioner engages with older people, service providers, and government agencies. In March 2024, a report called ‘Amplifying the voices of older people in Aotearoa New Zealand’ was published. It made 20 recommendations to improve care for older people. Key themes from the report highlighted the need for a transformative system change in the models of care, better transitions of care between services, and access to reliable, quality care at home so that older people can age comfortably in their preferred environment.
The Aged Care Commissioner has listened to the voices of older people to shape the future of aged-care services, advocating for better home-care services and more culturally safe care options. There has also been a focus on improving the navigation of the health system for older people and their whānau, with calls for dedicated roles to support older individuals transitioning between services.
In supporting the aged-care funding and services review, the Aged Care Commissioner stresses that any future Health NZ workforce plan should include actions contributing to a sustainable aged-care workforce. This includes roles like aged-care nurses, healthcare assistants, geriatricians and psychogeriatricians, pou tikanga and kaitakawaenga | cultural advisors and interpreters.