Statement of Intent 2008 - Outcome Three: Older people
On this Page:
Enable older people to lead full and secure lives. Older people have access to their full entitlements and are able to live independently.
What we are seeking to achieve
- older people have full entitlements
- older people live free from abuse and neglect
- older people are supported to live independently
What we will do to achieve this outcome
- we will build the financial stability of older New Zealanders
- we will build responsive services
- we will encourage contribution and participation
- we will improve protection for older people
Departmental output expenses that contribute
Vote Social Development
- Family and Community Services
- Income Support and Assistance to Seniors
- Management of Service Cards (MCOA) Administration of Community Services Card Output Class Management of SuperGold Card Output Class
- Policy Advice and Support to Ministers (MCOA) Social Policy Advice Output Class Crown Entity Monitoring Output Class
Vote Senior Citizens
- Senior Citizens Services Vote
Veterans’ Affairs - Social Development
- Processing and Payment of Pensions
What we will do to achieve this outcome over the next three years…
We will build the financial stability of older New Zealanders
- provide income security for our superannuitants and veterans in and outside of New Zealand.
Programmes and initiatives to be delivered in the medium-term include:
- provide a code of practice for Home Equity Conversion Schemes
- administer New Zealand Superannuation and supplementary additional assistance to help older people meet extra costs e.g. the Disability Allowance to assist with the costs of disability
- amend the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, the Social Security Act 1964, and the War Pensions Act 1954, to make the changes in pension arrangements
- implement amendments to the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001, the Social Security Act 1964, and the War Pensions Act 1954.
We will build responsive services
- administer the SuperGold Card and the Residential Care Subsidy
- provide policy advice and research on retirement income and other issues affecting older people.
Programmes and initiatives to be delivered in the medium-term include:
- increase the number of providers to build on those discounts already available through the SuperGold Card
- develop an integrated approach to the needs of seniors.
We will encourage contribution and participation
- promote positive ageing, promote and report progress on achieving the New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy objectives.
Programmes and initiatives to be delivered in the medium-term include:
- review and report on Positive Ageing Strategy Action Plans
- contract providers to deliver SAGES - Older People as Mentors programme
- work with the network of Volunteer Community Co-ordinators for the Office for Senior Citizens.
We will improve protection for older people
- fund services to reduce the incidence and impact of abuse and neglect of older people
- Implement changes to the Enduring Powers of Attorney provisions in the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Amendment Act 2007.
Programmes and initiatives to be delivered in the medium-term include:
- contract providers to deliver Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention Services.
Policy advice
- provide policy advice on social assistance, labour market participation, community involvement, for older people.
How we will demonstrate success in achieving this outcome
The range of indicators, used to assess the contribution to this outcome, is drawn from the statistical information assembled for the Social Report. Performance quality information is monitored regularly throughout the year, with final results in the Annual Report of the Ministry of Social Development.
| Outcome indicators – older people standard of living | ||
|---|---|---|
| Indicator | Current | Trend |
| Proportion of older people (65+) with net-of-housing-cost incomes below 60% of median | 6% (2004) | Steady |
| Source: Perry, B. (2007) Household incomes in New Zealand: trends in indicators of inequality and hardship 1982 to 2004 Ministry of Social Development, Wellington | ||
| Outcome indicators – older people participation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Indicator | Current | Trend |
| Percentage of older people (65+) regularly active for at least 30 minutes daily on 5 or more days over the past week | 41.3% (2002/03) | Unknown |
| Source: Positive Ageing Indicators Report 2007, from Ministry of Health (2007). Unpublished analysis from the New Zealand Health Survey 2002/2003. | ||
| Percentage of older people aged 65 and over who undertake unpaid work outside the home | 38% (2006) | Increasing |
| Source: Statistics New Zealand Census Of Population and Dwellings, unpublished analysis | ||
| Proportion of older people (65+) in the labour force | 12.5% (2006) | Increasing |
| Source: Statistics New Zealand Household Labour Force Survey, annual average for the year ended December | ||
| Performance measure | Standard 2008/2009 |
|---|---|
| Accuracy | |
| The percentage of entitlement assessments completed accurately will be no less than | 92% |
| Timeliness | |
| The percentage of entitlement assessments completed within five working days will be no less than | 85% |
How we will measure cost effectiveness of the interventions
Living standards for older people
The 2004 Living Standards Survey (published 2006) showed that, given the private provision for retirement that the current cohort of older people have made, the New Zealand Superannuation and other social assistance are sufficient to enable the majority of older New Zealanders to avoid hardship and maintain their relativity with other New Zealanders.
We are commissioning a 2008 Living Standards Survey which will allow us to continue to monitor the relative material wellbeing of older New Zealanders. Reporting on the key findings is scheduled for later in 2009.
