Planning ahead for the aged

Communities in the Mahurangi region have been invited to join a conversation on how best New Zealand can plan for an ageing population.

Around 750,000 Kiwis are aged over 65 years, but by 2038 this is likely to be over 1.3 million.

According to the Ministry of Social Development, the next generation of older people will live longer, be healthier, more skilled and more educated. There will not only be more older people, there will be fewer younger people.

The Government is currently seeking feedback on a strategy to respond effectively to this shift in the country’s demographic. The new strategy will replace the New Zealand Positive Ageing Strategy, which was developed in 2001.

In the consultation preamble, Minister for Seniors Tracey Martin says that at the most basic level, people’s needs will be the same – a warm dry home, financial security, health, safety and a community to belong to.

“If, in a little under 20 years, people aged 65-plus are to make up almost a quarter of our population, the implications for our economy, workforce, healthcare and government services will be significant,” Ms Martin says.

“We need more than a whole-of-government approach. We need everyone – government, local government, non-governmental organisations, communities, whanau, family, individuals, and businesses – to work together.”

The new strategy looks at a range of issues, from changing family structures to cultural diversity, work, housing, health and retirement income.    

For example, many older people are living alone and may be separated from family and whanau support. Nationally, single-person households are expected to rise from 393,000 to 599,400 by 2038.

Of these, 56 per cent will be people aged 65-plus. At the same time, the number of inter-generational households is also growing.

Following the current consultation, which closes on August 24, officials will draft the new strategy and an action plan. A second round of consultation on the proposed strategy will take place early next year.

Info: superseniors.msd.govt.nz