A new system for delivering home care services for older people, focusing on restorative care, begins in the South Island today.
Associate Health Minister, Casey Costello said the new system is part of a series of improvements being made to the current aged care system, backed by a significant increase in funding, to support improved care and the aged care sector.
“The aged residential care (ARC) sector has received a 4% funding uplift and will see a total increase of $96 million this year, and funding for home and community support services (HCSS) will increase by $44 million,” Ms Costello says.
Today’s changes in home care funding and provision see the introduction of a new ‘case mix’ framework and funding model across the South Island to help those people who receive care at home.
“Four providers have been contracted to provide the new model, which is designed to move away from ‘task-based’ care plans where providers are paid by the hour for specific tasks to more flexible care which is responsive to what people need,” said Minister Costello.
“The new service model will provide better care with a focus on keeping people as independent as long as possible.”
The case mix framework and funding model will be introduced across the other three Health NZ regions to provide national consistency.
The Minister said Health NZ was also working with the aged care sector to update the current contract for aged care and to develop a better system for categorising care need.
“The sector has said, and I’ve seen, that people entering residential aged care have higher health needs than before, and some older people need greater care from home services as well as more specialised services, such as bariatric and even palliative care in ARC facilities.”
“I want this process to better categorise this need, and the care people require, which will support the development of an appropriate funding model,” she said.
