Nurse leader pleads for funding as staffing shortage forces closure of 900 age d-care beds

ABSTRACT

The voluntary standards (https//tas.health.nz/assets/Health-of-Older-People/ARRC-Agreement-2021-22-effective-1-August-2021-.pdf) (see pp56, 58 and 70-71) for our aged-care facilities state each resident only needs half an hour of nursing care per day - but with residents in recent years coming in older, sicker and in need of more acute care, this is nowhere near enough. Aged care 'fastest-growing' sector The level of care provided in many aged residential care (ARC) facilities includes * Hospital-level * Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) transitional/rehabilitative/serious injury * End-of-life * Assisted dying * Mental health and addiction * Cognitive impairment requiring a secure environment We nurses who work in aged care and the community must also support our older people to stay independent as long as possible, whether in their own home or in a care home, for their own wellbeing but also to reduce pressure on hospitals and ARC facilities. [...]one man under 65 was recently admitted with end-stage lung cancer, no social or family support and a long history of trauma, mental health issues and a distrust of health professionals. The New Zealand Aged Care Association has estimated $94 million is needed to pay ARC nurses (enrolled and registered) on a par with hospital nurses - but this would rise to $166 million after the Health NZ/NZNO pay equity settlement rates are implemented.