By Krystal Gibbens, RNZ
The government began rolling out a more flexible new system for delivering home care services to older people in the South Island yesterday.
Associate health minister Casey Costello says it is one of a series of improvements being made to the current aged care system, backed by a significant increase in funding.
The aged residential care sector has received a 4 per cent funding uplift and will see a total increase of $96 million this year, while funding for home and community support services will increase by $44 million.
The total funding increase of $140 million this year is on top of an annual increase of $129 million last year and means government spending on aged care is now more than $2.5 billion.
“The reality is the current aged care model is out of date, so we are making improvements in the short term as well as considering system-level change,” Ms Costello says.
“The funding increases are aimed at relieving pressure on the sector and improving care services for older New Zealanders while we work towards the longer-term reform needed to better help people age well.
“The new service model will provide better care with a focus on keeping people as independent as long as possible,” she says.