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Read our recent correspondence on issues impacting on older people, including our open letter to the Prime Minister.
Letter to the Retirement Commissioner from national president Liz Baxendine.
"...I would be very interested to know what you think of the points made [by researcher John Logan on the adequacy of retirement income]... and in particular to know whether the Commission considers the current level of New Zealand Superannuation to be adequate..."
> READ the full letter [download small PDF file]
Hon Tony Ryall, Minister of Health's comments to us on home support and rest homes, July 2010
"...the Government is committed to supporting our elderly to stay in their homes for as long as they can - as much as we can. And if an older person moves into residential care, then we want them and their families feeling safe and happy about that choice..."
The Prime Minister, to national president Liz Baxendine and Grey Power president Les Howard, 16 June 2010.
"...I know that you and your organisations carry out a wide range of very helpful activities with the community. I and the Government certainly appreciate the time and effort that you put in.
...the Ministry of Social Development has carefully examined Mr Logan's report ...There are unfortunately some significant flaws in the research [Age Concern disputes this –Ed] and the conclusion cannot therefore be accepted.
...Ministry of Social Development's research ...shows that the great majority of older New Zealanders have enough income and assets for a reasonable standard of living, and that many have a very good standard of living.
... Like you, this government is concerned about any older New Zealanders who are facing financial difficulty, even though we may not be in agreement with you on the size of this group. People in hardship can also apply for assistance through a range of supplementary assistance measures including one off payments for essential and emergency needs...
In the current fiscal and economic climate it is not possible for the government to consider an increase in New Zealand Superannuation...
> READ the full letter [link to very small PDF file]
Letter to Rt Hon John Key from Liz Baxendine and Grey Power president Les Howard.
Age Concern and Grey Power consider NZ Super should meet the basic costs of living and ask that you:
Increase the NZS to the maximum allowed under the Act; Direct MSD to check the adequacy of the level of NZS using basic budgets and the minimum wage; and, Adjust the level of NZS in April and October each year, using price increases of relevant goods and services rather than the more general CPI.
> READ the full letter [link to very small PDF file]
Ministry of Health, Acting Chief Dental Officer to Ann Martin, Age Concern CEO on 1 June 2010
"We appreciate your efforts in directing attention to this area of need, and assure you that it is an area we are looking at closely as part of our responsibility for identifying opportunities to deliver better oral health care for all New Zealanders...."
> READ the full letter [link to very small PDF file]
Letter to Assoc. Minister of Justice Hon Nathan Guy from Age Concern CE Ann Martin, 28 April 2010
"Age Concern has many years experience working with older people and in particular, older people who have been abused by those closest to them. Based on this experience, we consider that the amendment to the Wills Act 2007 proposed in the Statutes Amendment Bill offers opportunity for abuse or coercion...
> READ the full letter [link to very small PDF file]
Hon Peter Dunne, Minister of Revenue to Liz Baxendine, 6 April 2010
"...Although the Government has not made final decisions as to whether to increase GST, the Prime Minister, Hon John Key, also noted in his statement of 9 February, that if GST did increase, superannuation payments would be immediately increased to compensate for any change in prices. This would be in addition to a tax cut, so the combined effect would see many superannuitants better off..."
> READ the full letter
Ministry of Health, Health of Older People official to Ann Martin, Age Concern CEO on 30 March 2010
Telephone assessments before removing home support care: "...The Ministry has recently advised DHBs that they should establish protocols for telephone assessments that include the following recommendations.
- Older people should be advised that an assessment or reassessment is planned [and given] an appointment time for a different occasion.
- At the beginning of the telephone call the assessor would advise the older person of the purpose of the call, outline what they can expect will happen during the call, and that they can seek a review of the assessment findings ...
- The assessor should ask the older person for the name and contact details of a family or whanau member that the assessor could also contact to discuss the assessment if required or if desired by the older person.
- The assessment phone call should be conducted like a conversation and be finished within 20-30 minutes. Sounding the client out about potential service planning arrangements or preferences is reasonable provided this is completed within the time frame and does not pre-empt the analysis of the assessment results.
- Older people with significant hearing, visual, speech, language or cognitive difficulties such as dementia, or who have English as a second language should be assessed face to face. These issues are usually identified on the original referral for services letter. If not, the assessor should stop the call and make home visit arrangements.
- Clients must be advised that they can seek a review of the assessment findings if they wish...."
> READ the full letter
Hon Tony Ryall, Minister of Health to Liz Baxendine QSO President Age Concern New Zealand 11 March 2010
"... changes to home support services being carried out by a number of DHBs
... I have been assured by all the DHBs involved that no-one will be unsafe or unable to stay in their own homes as a result of these changes. Any specific cases where there is evidence to the contrary should be brought to the attention of the DHB concerned.
It is expected that DHBs will prioritise funding in a way that ensures services continue to be provided to people with the highest level of need. At the same time, DHBs are expected to further develop home support services including services that allow more complex care to be provided at home."
> READ the full letter
Letter to Rt Hon John Key from Age Concern national president Liz Baxendine.
Age Concern New Zealand opposes your proposal to increase GST to 15 percent
"...there is potential for any GST increase to combine with price rises already announced and those projected for this year to produce a 'perfect storm' of cost of living increases that would greatly increase the proportion of older New Zealanders living in financial hardship.
> READ the full letter
Letter to Hon Tony Ryall from Age Concern national president Liz Baxendine and CE Ann Martin.
"...do [home support cut] measures have your approval?
If they do, how do you reconcile them with the National government’s stated aim of “improving home-based care” and with the Ministry’s stated intention to place greater “emphasis on development of home and community based services”?
If the cuts do not have your support, what steps will you be taking to ensure that DHBs provide older people with the home support services they need to live in their own homes safely and with dignity?
> READ the full letter
Letter to Ministry of Health officials from Age Concern CE Ann Martin
Reviews of home support by telephone, 9 Feb 2010
...You indicated that there is international evidence to show that a telephone interview is a reliable basis upon which to make decisions about changes to home support, provided that the correct procedure is followed. [our emphasis]
I would be interested to know precisely what process the Ministry considers should be followed when NASCs carry out reviews of services by telephone, so that we can pass this information on to Age Concerns and older people.
In particular, how does the process work for older people who:
- wish to involve family or whanau in the process?
- wish to invoke their right to have a support person present?
- need to communicate face-to-face?
- have a hearing impairment?
- have dementia?
Finally, how does the Ministry advise that older people respond when they believe they have been incorrectly assessed?
Letter to Rt Hon John Key from Age Concern national president Liz Baxendine.
Government is failing to act on a critical issue affecting seniors' welfare and safety.
"Age Concern is extremely concerned about the many older people in New Zealand who continue to suffer the most appalling physical, psychological and financial abuse. We are similarly concerned about the growing number of vulnerable older people with complex needs who are currently not being helped...
> READ the full letter
Letter to HFANZ (health Insurance) executive director Roger Styles from Age Concern CE Ann Martin
"Age Concern New
The major issues emerging from our enquiry fall into three main categories: premium levels, accessibility of relevant information and customer service...
>READ the full letter
Letter from Hon John Carter refusing a Budget 2010 bid to fill service gaps, 7 December 2009
"Thank you for your letter ...putting forward proposals for Elder Abuse prevention and case management for seniors with complex needs. ... I have considered your proposals and I commend you on the thought and analysis that has gone into the documents. I appreciate the significant contribution Age Concern already makes to improve the wellbeing of older New Zealanders...
You will be well aware that this Government is scrutinising all expenditure very closely, with no new money available. We are not planning to make budget bids in the areas you propose. It is worth noting that we would, as a matter of principle, open up any future funded service opportunities to competitive tender.
Your proposal around elder abuse prevention makes a lot of sense. However, we are not planning to extend current services at this time.
I understand that you have discussed your proposal around case management of seniors with complex needs, with officials from the Ministry of Social Development. I agree that services need to be well coordinated around those in most need. Given the lack of additional funding I would like to see how existing resources and skills might be used to better effect at a local level..."
> READ the full letter [Small PDF file, will open in new window]
Letter from Hon Steven Joyce, on the closure of Safe With Age, 22 October 2009
"The NZTA is aware the Safe with Age course was very popular among mature drivers in the community. However, the course nationally had a very low impact-reaching only 4,000 participants a year out of a potential pool of 807,165
licence holders over the age of 55 ... This meant the course was not effective in reach or in cost.
...I understand Age Concern providers have been informed of the policy around the use of existing Safe with Age materials. It is the NZTA's intention that these will help to 'bridge the gap' until a new mature driver educational initiative becomes available.
...The government remains committed to improving safety for mature drivers, but a more cost-efficient programme to reach a greater proportion of them is required. The NZTA will be considering alternative mature driver education approaches, and plan to pilot a new approach in 2010-2011."
> READ the full letter [Small PDF file, will open in new window]
> READ what we are saying
Letter from Breast Cancer National Screening Unit,
on the age 70 cut-off for screening, 10 September 2009
"... You are quite correct that the incidence of breast cancer increases with age, but at present there is no consistent high-quality scientific evidence about the overall benefits of screening women over 70 years... an individual approach is currently recommended for further screening in women over 70. This is not catered for by the blanket approach for population-based screening in BSA. Whether screening is potentially of overall benefit for an individual woman depends on the particular harms and benefits for her. Older women are best to discuss this with their G P.
However, BreastScreen Aotearoa continues to monitor scientific trials and programmes overseas, and as new evidence becomes available it may be that the age range could be extended."
> READ the full letter [Small PDF file, will open in new window]
> READ what we are saying
Letter from Hon John Carter, on correcting the rate of NZ Superannuation, 2 July 2009
"...You said in your letter that it is incorrect to express the rates of New Zealand Superannuation as "...66 percent of the net average wage" and to keep using and quoting the couple rate exclusively, when referring to rates of New Zealand Superannuation. You ask that ministers and government agencies move away from using the '66 per cent formula' when talking about New Zealand Superannuation.
I agree with you and the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) has responded. Ministry officials have agreed that in preparing future publications… the phrasing of the rates of New Zealand Superannuation will be more explicitly expressed without losing the meaning..."
> READ the full letter [Small PDF file, will open in new window]
Letter from Hon Gerry Brownlee, on electricity charges, 2 August 2009
"…I do fully appreciate consumers' concerns about increases in electricity charges. That is why, as part of the Ministerial Review of the Electricity Market which I announced on 1 April, I included in the Terms of Reference a requirement for the review to look at efficient and fair pricing to all classes of consumer – in other words, the ongoing affordability of electricity.
This review will obviously take some time to complete, but I am optimistic that we will be able to let people know before the end of this year about the improvements that we will adopt…"
> READ the full letter [Small PDF file, will open in new window]
Letter from Hon Bill English, on superannuation and hardship, 22 July 2009
"…You say that superannuitants are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their health and quality of life. Under normal circumstances, New Zealand Superannuation is intended to provide an adequate, but basic, level of income. The Government considers that people need to save for their retirement if they want greater financial independence in their senior years.
While I am sympathetic to the stresses that can result from living on a modest income, our view on the adequacy of NZS is backed up by a range of studies…
There are, however, approximately ten per cent of superannuitants who do not have any extra income to supplement their NZS entitlement. It is possible that some of these will genuinely struggle to make ends meet. To make sure these people do not suffer unnecessarily, the Government can make extra assistance available…"
> READ the full letter [small PDF file, will open in new window]
Letter from Hon John Carter on superannuation entitlement, 29 July 2009
"...I'd like to endorse the recent words from the Prime Minister and repeat the assurances we have made to you, your organisation and all older New Zealanders. I'd also appreciate it if you would pass my message on to your members.
This Government is committed to keeping existing Superannuation entitlements, which will continue to be paid from age 65. These settings are affordable and are built into long-term spending plans, as set out in the Budget.
Thank you for the work you do, and your commitment to New Zealand."
> READ the full letter [Small PDF file, will open in new window]
More information
> VISIT our Policies that Work for Older People page for more information on our important role responding to government and non-government initiatives that impact on older New Zealanders, including our Briefings to Incoming Ministers and Submissions.
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