Statement of Intent 2006 - Older People
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High Level Outcome
Older people are valued as important members of society and have the right to dignity and security in their senior years. They have opportunities to use their skills, knowledge and experience to contribute to society.
Context
People aged 65 years and over currently make up 12% of the population. This is expected to double to 24% over the next 30 years, as more people move into retirement age as a result of longer life expectancy. Future generations of older people are expected to be, on average, healthier, richer and better educated than the current generation, and to live longer. They will also be more ethnically diverse, due to the closing gap in life expectancy between non-Maori and Maori, immigration and differing birthrates.
Older people play an important role in our communities, in the voluntary sector, and in the economy. They provide care and support for children and other family members, and in 2004, 10% were active in the labour market. As the population ages, society will become increasingly dependent on older people’s contribution.
Older people need opportunities to work longer, and to have a choice of lifestyles at the end of their active working lives. Future policies and services need to be designed to support people as they grow older to contribute to the economy and give back to the community.
Our role
To protect the wellbeing of older people today and in the future, the Ministry:
- provides policy advice and research on retirement income and other issues affecting older people
- supports the Minister for Senior Citizens, promotes positive ageing, promotes and reports progress on The New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy, provides advice on older people’s issues, and builds healthy relationships with older people and their organisations through the Office for Senior Citizens
- provides income security for older people and veterans in New Zealand and in other countries
- administers the Community Services Card and the Residential Care Subsidy
- funds services to reduce the incidence and impact of abuse and neglect of older people.
Our focus for the next three years
The formation of the new Government in November 2005 resulted in some new and significant priorities for the Ministry including:
- developing a card for Seniors that can be used to identify the holder’s eligibility for all public sector entitlements, and (potentially) commercial discounts
- ensuring that the rate of New Zealand Superannuation is set at 66% of the average weekly earnings (ordinary time)
- investigating ways to improve options for older people who may be eligible for foreign pensions as well as New Zealand Superannuation
- addressing the issue of elder care.
We will ensure that policies and programmes reflect the diversity of the older population, and that our research broadens our understanding of the implications and issues of ageing. Our policies and programmes will reflect the Government’s priorities and the aspirations of current and future generations of older people.
Development Of A Card For Seniors
The Ministry is currently developing a card for people who are aged 65 years and older. This year we will focus on providing Government with advice and options on how seniors can use the card.
Promoting The Year Of The Veteran
The Government has designated 2006 as the Year of the Veteran. We have been working with Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand to promote the Year of the Veteran within the Ministry and the wider community, to commemorate and honour the sacrifice and service of our veterans.
Comprehensive And Co-Ordinated Services
On behalf of the Government, the Ministry will continue to develop ways to ensure the provision of effective and timely services to older people, particularly the payment of New Zealand Superannuation and other related assistance. We will ensure that New Zealand Superannuation recipients receive their full and correct entitlement, and that our case management processes are responsive to the needs of older people. These new processes will be supported by training and useful tools such as an updated internal website.
The Ministry is currently undertaking a review of our delivery of services to older people. This review provides an opportunity to take a leadership role in the co-ordination of seamless information and services for older people within the Ministry, with other government and non-government organisations.
We will continue to develop a cross-government internet portal for older people. The portal will provide a “no wrong door” approach to information and services, supporting and contributing to the State Services goal of using technology to transform the provision of services to older people.
Seeing Results
We want to see the following results from our work, for older people today and in the future:
- older people have access to integrated, co-ordinated services
- older people have access to the information and services when they need it
- older people have an adequate standard of living, can participate in their community, and are supported to take part in the workforce if they choose
- older people are free from abuse or neglect, have legal protection for their financial assets, and are supported in times of crisis or emergency
- veterans have adequate income, care and rehabilitation assistance
- older people are able to participate in the work force as well as taking up any education and/or training opportunities.
Provide leadership on integration and co-ordination of service delivery for older people
To support older people to participate in employment and the community and to age in place, we need to provide adequate income support, housing, healthcare and transport, and more co-ordinated and integrated services across the government sector. This includes improving the availability of information about current services across government departments and non-government organisations.
There is considerable scope to transform the delivery of our services to meet the differing needs of older people. Through the payment of New Zealand Superannuation and social security benefits we have ongoing contact with almost 95% of people aged 65 and over. We can make improvements by working more effectively with other agencies at the regional level, providing more outreach services, reducing complexity and compliance costs for older people, and using new and improved technology.
On behalf of the Government, we are also reviewing the portability arrangements of New Zealand Superannuation to see where improvements can be made.
Older people have timely access to the information and services they need
Good information and advice are important to enable older people to experience ageing as a positive and productive stage in their lives. We can strengthen our services to older people by improving their quality and responsiveness and range, by ensuring services are well co-ordinated, and by providing good information about what is available.
The card for Seniors that we are developing, on behalf Government, is aimed at improving older people’s access to services and information from the public sector. Our work on the card for Seniors gives us the opportunity to develop a consistent, whole-of-government framework for older people’s services and entitlements, and this opportunity will be explored over the next 12 months.
We will continue our review of our service delivery for older people. This work has already led to changes to our outcomes framework and we are now focused on designing a model for future delivery of services, including how we can better co-ordinate with services provided by other government and non-government organisations.
On behalf of the Government, the Office for Senior Citizens provides leadership of older people’s issues across the government sector. We will continue to promote and monitor The New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy, and apply the Strategy’s principles to our advice.
We will continue to provide second-opinion advice on policies that affect older people, to ensure that older people’s priorities are discussed when policies and legislation are developed.
Older people enjoy secure and adequate incomes and standards of living
As New Zealand’s population ages, the total cost of New Zealand Superannuation will continue to rise. To achieve reasonable incomes over and above New Zealand Superannuation, many working-age New Zealanders will need to save more.
We will continue to work with the Retirement Commission to raise awareness about the importance of saving for retirement. This area of work is a challenge, but we will encourage working age New Zealanders to save for a secure and adequate income in retirement. We are also closely involved with the Treasury in the development and implementation of a work-based savings scheme, which is due for introduction in April 2007.
People aged 65 years and over have, on average, a lower disposable income than the rest of the population. More than half of all older people have very little private income and rely almost totally on New Zealand Superannuation. We will ensure the rate of New Zealand Superannuation is paid at the rate determined by Government, this has recently increased to 66% of the average weekly earnings (ordinary time). This will help us narrow the ”income gap” between older people and the rest of the population.
Many people choose, or find it necessary, to stay on in paid employment. We will continue to provide employment services to older people who want to work, while ensuring all older people receive their full and correct entitlements.
We will also investigate extending the support for grandparents raising grandchildren and other carers on a pension and provide them with the sort of allowances provided to foster parents.
War Pension Services will continue to provide a ”VIP” individualised service to New Zealand veterans, ensuring that our processes meet the needs of veterans now and in the future.
Retirement Commission
The Retirement Commission is responsible for some of the world’s most innovative retirement planning projects – designed to help New Zealanders get their finances sorted so that they can retire with an income that meets their lifestyle expectations.
The Sorted public education programme is an integral part of the Commission’s work and a cost-effective and successful tool for all New Zealanders. This programme encourages New Zealanders to take action on preparing for retirement by providing information on budgeting, saving, borrowing and investing. By using Sorted, New Zealanders can improve their lifetime financial management skills so they can be better prepared for retirement. (www.sorted.co.nz)
Older people are able to participate in the community in ways that they choose
According to research from Victoria University of Wellington, older people do around 15% of all unpaid work.
Older people contribute to the community in many different ways. They contribute their time, energy, and skills to community groups, boards, schools, marae, kohanga reo, health and support services, sports teams, and churches.
Older people tell us that volunteering can be emotionally and intellectually satisfying. It contributes to their physical and mental wellbeing, and it provides opportunities to learn new skills and to contribute to their communities. People of all ages benefit from the talents and knowledge that older people share through their voluntary work.
The New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy supports central, regional and local governments to enable older people to participate and be included in their communities. Over the next three years, we will:
- develop policies to promote “ageing in place”, supporting older people to remain living in their communities
- continue to invite older people to be Ambassadors for Positive Ageing, in recognition of the work a person has done to promote positive ageing
- continue to manage the Volunteer Community Co-ordinators programme, a network of 39 volunteers who carry out projects on behalf of the Minister for Senior Citizens, distribute information about positive ageing activities, and inform their communities about government initiatives that affect older people.
We deliver SAGES which is a programme where older people provide one-on-one life and home skills mentoring to families and individuals. SAGES matches older volunteers with families and individuals to develop their skills in areas such as home management, cooking, budgeting and parenting. Volunteers also provide practical assistance and support.
We are also investigating ways to support older people to maintain their independence so they can continue to live in their own homes and communities. A possible area for development is support for the spouse or another caregiver of an older person.
Older people are able to participate in the workforce and related education and training opportunities
As the number of retired people in New Zealand increases, the number of workers is likely to decrease. This will place a great pressure on the New Zealand workforce to meet the costs of an ageing population. Increasing employment opportunities for mature workers and older people will help the Government to address skills shortages, increase tax revenue and improve living standards and wellbeing for many older New Zealanders who want to work.
The choice to work later in life, using flexible and part-time arrangements, is an important part of active ageing. The Ministry is working with potential employers and training providers to promote the skills, knowledge, experience and stability of older people wishing to work. We are also working to change negative perceptions of older people in the workforce.
We are broadening our employment services, so people aged 55 years and over have the opportunity to access part-time or full-time work. Our assessment identifies achievable goals, support that the client might need, and whether work is an option now or in the future.
For those where employment is an option, the client will be offered the opportunities:
- to be matched to job opportunities before they need to come onto a benefit
- to participate in work-readiness seminars, which will include information on the local labour market and benefit eligibility.
Older people are free from abuse and neglect and have legal protection for their financial assets and are supported in times of crisis or emergency
Through our policy development and service delivery, we assist in protecting older people from abuse and discrimination, so they can remain independent, age in place where possible, and participate in the community and the economy.
Over the next three years, the Office for Senior Citizens will complete the development of the Enduring Powers of Attorney legislation. They will focus on preparing amendments to the legislation to address concerns about elder abuse, and in particular financial abuse of older people.
We will continue to administer contracts for elder abuse and neglect prevention services, and further develop policy and service responses.
The impact of an ageing population on social wellbeing is anticipated and well understood
A high level of government expenditure is dedicated to supporting older people, and that level will increase as the older population grows. Planning is critical.
An ageing population will lead to greater demands for government expenditure, especially on key health and social services. It will also present new opportunities for older people to play a critical role for families and communities, and in paid employment.
Our challenge is to understand the impact that this will have on New Zealand society, and to position government services to support and promote the opportunities of an ageing population.
We are responsible for co-ordinating a cross-government programme of research to build knowledge about how government and the community can respond to the implications of an ageing population. We are also working to improve older people’s access to government services and assistance.
Research and Evaluation
Our research and evaluation programme for older people broadens our understanding of the implications of an ageing population, and informs policy development on ageing issues and service delivery.
Ageing In Place Study
This study is exploring the situations where older people remain living in their own homes, or in another place of their choosing within the community, and how government can support them to do so.
Literature Review On Preventative Services
We are currently carrying out a national and international literature review to provide a broad outline of existing preventative services for older people. Preventative services for older people can be defined as those services that delay or prevent the need for more cost-intensive services at a later date. The purpose of this literature review is to help develop policy around future service delivery.
Evaluation Of Sages
An evaluation is being carried out on the SAGES programme, where the older people as life and home skills mentors programme which is an initiative for services where older people offer one-on-one life and home skills mentoring to families and individuals in needs of assistance, many of whom will be Work and Income clients. SAGES provides preventative support for individuals and families by working with them to develop their skills in areas such as home management, cooking, budgeting and parenting. The purpose of the evaluation is to identify the perceptions of participants’ (mentors’, recipients’ and providers’) of the SAGES programme.
Managing Our Capabilities
The Ministry has established a Senior Services group within the Specialist Services business group, bringing together International Services, War Pensions, and National Community Services Card Centre. This helps us streamline the delivery of our services and products for older people.
We will continue to run our Older Peoples’ network, a whole-of-Ministry forum for co-ordinating our policy, service delivery work and research on older people.
We will also continue to:
- work towards providing a fully integrated public service to older people
- build the capability of our frontline staff to understand the issues facing older people and to provide proactive employment support
- provide New Zealanders with information about entitlements before and when they retire, including New Zealand Superannuation
- build awareness of the importance and impact of current choices on future opportunities and wellbeing within the working age population, including the importance of retirement planning
- ensure superannuitants and veterans receive their full and correct entitlements, with services that are accessible and easy to understand.
Monitoring Progress
The following measures provide an overview of the current state of wellbeing for older people.
Outcome Indicators
| INDICATORS – OLDER PEOPLE STANDARD OF LIVING | ||
|---|---|---|
| Indicator | Result | Trend |
| Proportion of older people (65+) experiencing lower standards of living | 7% (2000) |
No trend available |
| Proportion of older Maori (65+) experiencing lower standards of living | 26% (2000) |
No trend available |
| Proportion of older Pacific people (65+) experiencing lower standards of living | 50% (2000) |
No trend available |
| Proportion of older people (65+) with net-of-housing-cost incomes below 60% of median |
6.4% (2004) |
Declining |
Source: New Zealand Living Standards 2000, Statistics New Zealand, Household Economic Survey
Note: Lower standards of living refer to Economic Living Standard Index (ELSI) levels 1-3
| INDICATORS – OLDER PEOPLE PARTICIPATION | ||
|---|---|---|
| Indicator | Result | Trend |
| Percentage of older people (65+) who spend at least 2.5 hours a week in sports or active leisure |
76% (2000/01) |
No trend available |
| Percentage of older people (65+) who undertake unpaid work outside the home | 17% (2001) |
No trend available |
| Percentage of older people (65+) who participated in cultural and arts activities | 81% (2002) |
No trend available |
| Percentage of older people (65+) in the labour force | 11.6% (2005) |
No trend available |
Sources: The Social Report 2005; Statistics New Zealand, Older New Zealanders: 65 and beyond; Statistics New Zealand, Household Labour Survey, year ended December
