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Welcome to our October edition of the Seniors Newsletter.
In this edition, our Director tells you about the work of the Office for Seniors, who among other things are responsible for publishing this newsletter, and talks about the importance of the UN International Day of Older Persons.
Do you ever stop to think about whether what you are reading is true? One of our stories looks at how you can improve your critical thinking.
While most COVID-19 requirements have now been removed, the virus is still with us. See our story with all the latest advice on what you should do to keep you and your whanau safe.
We share a story on a senior entrepreneur, Lizzie Scott and how she is rolling out her idea to help people leaving hospital who would otherwise return to an empty home.
We look at chronic pain and how to manage it with advice from NZ Pain Society President, Erica Gleeson.
People often put off creating an Enduring Power of Attorney until it is too late. Read up on how you can do it right no
The Office for Seniors is committed to supporting senior digital literacy. And a successful partnership is improving skills in the Pacific community. |
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| From the Director |
The Office for Seniors was established as a unit within the Ministry of Social Development in 1991, following the Government’s decision in July 1990 to create the role of the Minister for Seniors. As well as providing support to this Ministerial portfolio, the Office for Seniors is also responsible for:
- advising on the rights and issues of older people
- coordinating responses to ageing population issues across government
- leading and coordinating responses to population ageing by local Councils and communities
- raising awareness about issues experienced by older people
- supporting your advocacy for older people and understanding of issues they experience.
We work to keep you informed through our bimonthly newsletter, which now goes to over 450,000 unique email addresses, information on our website and our social media platforms including Facebook. We also support the work of academics, researchers, NGOs and community groups that serve older people, and we keep them informed through a monthly stakeholder newsletter.
Our office is responsible for the development and implementation of our national strategy for our ageing population, Better Later Life - He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034 and associated Action Plan. Our priorities have been focused on improving digital inclusion, housing and employment outcomes for older people. A number of government agencies have been working to deliver on commitments in these areas. Our office received funding for some projects which include digital literacy training, and pilot programmes for those senior entrepreneurs interested in starting a business in later life and a homeshare pilot programme based in Auckland.
As a core part of our work programme, we signed up as an affiliate member of the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age- friendly cities and communities in 2018. This a grass roots programme that empowers older people to work in their own communities to identify and address barriers to their well-being and participation. It has been heartening to see the programme grow in our communities over the last six years. Currently 31 local councils are part of a network we set up to support the development of age friendly communities.
It has been heartening to see it grow over the last six years. Currently 30 local councils are part of a network we set up to support the development of age friendly communities.
All 62 district, city, and unitary councils in New Zealand are responsible for leading activities and initiatives in their communities to benefit older people. Those that are part of the Age friendly Aotearoa New Zealand programme can share their work, learn and collaborate and see what other councils are doing with their local communities.
Each year we report to the World Health Organization on our work leading the Age friendly Aotearoa New Zealand programme and what we have achieved. You can read our most recent report on their website here: https://extranet.who.int/agefriendlyworld/network/government-new-zealand
We are also supporting the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing. The purpose of the Decade which runs to 2030 is to add quality to quantity to our later lives and give all people the chance to lead a meaningful life, no matter their age.
For more information on our work go to officeforseniors.govt.nz |
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| Celebrating UN International Day of Older Persons |
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The annual United Nations (UN) International Older Persons Day, which takes place on 1 October, recognises the global contribution that older people make in society.
Director of the Office for Seniors, Diane Turner said: “Older people have a positive impact across Aotearoa New Zealand and this event gives us the opportunity to celebrate this.
"By 2034 there will be 1.2 million people aged 65 or above in New Zealand – just over a fifth of the population. International Day of Older Persons is a great opportunity to acknowledge many ways older people add value and enhance our society.
“A growing number of older people are healthier, more educated, more engaged in their community, more skilled and are living longer. These are all things to celebrate,” she said.
The theme this year is, “Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations”
It recognises the 75th anniversary of the UN General Assembly adopting the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, setting out for the first time agreed human rights that are meant to be protected.
For 2023, UN International Older Persons Day raises awareness of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights to ensure the rights of older people are not overlooked.
More information on older people and human rights can be found here: |
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| Winter Energy Payment has ended for this year |
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The Winter Energy Payment ended on 1 October. If you get it, you will receive four days of Winter Energy Payment with your 10 October 2023 payment.
If you have any concerns about how you will manage without it, there may be other ways Work and Income can help.
Use their online eligibility tool check.msd.govt.nz to check what you might be able to get.
Find advice to help manage your money at www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/living-expenses/managing-your-money.html or call the Work and Income Seniors team on 0800 552 002.
Everyone’s situation is different, so they are always happy to talk with you.
If you qualify for the Winter Energy Payment next year, you’ll get it automatically from 1 May until 1 October 2024. |
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| Improving media literacy |
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Manipulated, false or misleading information online can cause people to worry and be anxious for no real reason. The rise in misinformation has seen people reduce trust in institutions, the media, public acceptance of science and the integrity of government.
Improving digital inclusion helps us to access services and participate in society, but it is important that we recognise misinformation when they see it.
Media literacy provides a framework to access, analyse, evaluate, and participate with messages in a variety of forms — from print to video to the internet.
One of the most effective ways to help you evaluate information in the digital world is the SIFT method:
Stop
- Before you read or share an article or video, STOP!
- Be aware of your emotional response to the headline or information in the article.
- Headlines are often meant to get clicks and will do so by causing the reader to have a strong emotional response.
Investigate the source
- Take a moment to look up the author and source publishing the information.
- What can you find about the author?
- Do they have vested interests?
- Would their assessment be biased?
- Do they have authority in the area?
Find better coverage
- See if you can find other sources corroborating the same information or disputing it.
- What coverage is available on the topic?
- Keep track of trusted news sources.
Trace the original
- When an article references a quote from an expert, or results of a research study, it is good practice to attempt to locate the original source of the information. Click through the links to follow the claims to the original source of information
There are lots of free games and resources online that can help you learn more. Why not try one out yourself?
iReporter from the BBC which teaches media literacy skills can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/
Bad News in which you make up your own disinformation to help you understand how quickly it can spread is at www.getbadnews.com/en#play |
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| Voting underway in the election |
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It’s time to vote in the 2023 General Election and have your say.
You can vote any time between Monday 2 October and 7pm on election day, Saturday 14 October. To make voting easier there will be voting places in spaces people visit, including malls, retail areas, and transport hubs, as well as community halls and schools.
If you need help voting, you can bring a support person with you to the voting place. The Electoral Commission has arranged voting services for people in care homes who aren’t able to go out and vote.
There is also a telephone dictation voting service for people who are blind, partially blind or can’t mark their voting paper.
You should have received your voting pack in the mail, which includes your EasyVote card and a list of your closest voting places.
Take your EasyVote card with you to make voting quicker and easier.
If you didn’t receive an EasyVote pack it probably means you either aren’t enrolled or need to update your enrolment details.
You can still enrol and vote at the same time at any voting place.
For more information, including your nearest voting place, visit the Electoral Commission’s website at www.vote.nz , or call them on 0800 36 76 56 |
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| All COVID-19 requirements now removed |
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The last remaining mandatory requirements for 7-day isolation periods and the wearing of face masks for visitors to healthcare facilities have now been removed.
Wearing facemasks in healthcare settings is still strongly recommended and it's especially important when visiting people who are at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell, such as people living in aged residential care facilities, patients in hospital and those with other health conditions.
If you are feeling unwell or if you, or someone in your household develops one or more of the following symptoms for COVID-19, a runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, loss of smell or taste, shortness of breath, take a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).
RATs will remain free for everyone throughout 2023. You can find participating pick-up points for RATs and masks at www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19 or by calling the RAT helpline on 0800 222 478 and choosing option 1.
Protect yourself, your whānau, and your community by getting immunised. Please don’t visit others if you are sick.
Aotearoa New Zealand has good access to antiviral medicines for people who are most at risk of a serious health outcome or hospitalisation from COVID-19. Everyone over 65 is eligible and there is good evidence that antivirals can make a difference.
If your COVID-19 symptoms get worse, or you are concerned about someone you care for, you can call Healthline on 0800 611 116 anytime for free health advice and information. If it’s an emergency, call 111.
If you need communication assistance, you can access using the NZ Relay Service www.nzrelay.co.nz . A person with experience or knowledge of disability will answer your call from 8am – 8pm. After 8pm, calls are answered by a trained member of the Healthline team. |
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| Share your thoughts on proposed changes to the retirement villages sector |
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In August, the Government published a discussion paper on proposed changes to the Retirement Villages Act 2003, inviting you to share your thoughts.
It has been 20 years since the introduction of the Retirement Villages Act 2003, it is a good time to evaluate how it is working.
Te Tūāpapa Kura Kainga – the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is welcoming feedback and submissions from retirement village residents, their families, potential residents, operators, sector organisations, legal advisors, and anyone else with an interest in retirement villages.
The discussion paper looks at proposals related to the three main phases of retirement living – moving in, living in, and moving out.
Additionally, you’re encouraged to submit your thoughts on other topics, such as the definition of retirement villages, culturally sensitive services, and insurance.
Making the decision to move into a retirement village is significant, which is why the government is working to ensure there is balance between the rights and responsibilities of retirement village residents and operators.
For more information on submitting your feedback, please visit the HUD website.
The deadline for submissions is Monday, 20 November 2023. |
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| A helping hand for hospital leavers |
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 A safe, welcoming place to recover in after leaving hospital is something Lizzie Scott hopes to become the norm.
CaringStay offers temporary accommodation for people who would otherwise have to return to an empty home after being discharged from hospital. Instead, they will stay with a person who can lend a hand in their recovery.
Rooms are rented by people who have one to spare in their house, who will keep them company as they recuperate.
After completing the Office for Seniors funded senior enterprise programme Lizzie started CaringStay this winter. Currently there are just two homes in Wellington, but she is currently working with six more hosts around the country.
She was inspired to start the business after seeing friends leave hospital and move back to an empty home.
"I know a woman who’d broken her shoulder. When she left hospital, I asked how she was, expecting her to complain about the pain. But she said, ‘It was terrible, they sent me straight home on my own."
She also saw heard many older people leave hospital early to free up beds during the Covid-19 lockdowns, back to an empty villa.
Lizzie believed this style of accommodation should be more available.
“Often people are too embarrassed to ask their friend ‘can I stay with you for a week while I recover.’ If the friend offers, that’s different.
“When I had a knee operation, if I couldn’t stay with my mother, I would have been stuffed.”
Lizzie said it was beneficial for all, as it was an opportunity to help hosts keep up with costs in retirement.
The hosts are police checked and encouraged to have grab-rails in the toilet and handrails on the staircases.
“This isn’t medical, this is respite,” she said. “We may give them an arm to steady themselves on the way to the shower, but we’re not showering them.
“The host is encouraged to keep notes on how the person is doing, that way if the doctor asks how they were on day three, we can tell them.”
Going forward, Lizzie’s dream for the future is for this style of accommodation to become commonplace.
“I’d love this to become a normal part of life. If you’ve left hospital and don’t want to go home straight away, it’s OK because there’s a CaringStay down the road.
“I want people to view this as not just a way to rent a room, this is the right thing to do.”
CaringStay is seeking more hosts. If interested, please contact Lizzie on info@caringstay.co.nz |
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| Understanding chronic pain in older people |
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Chronic pain (mamaenga roa) affects 20-50 percent of older people in New Zealand. It is defined as pain that lasts for more than three months, or pain that lasts beyond the normal time for healing.
Older people experience higher rates of chronic pain than any other age group. The most common causes being degenerative spine and arthritic conditions, or nerve type pain, commonly caused by diabetes or shingles.
Women report significantly more pain at greater levels, and are overrepresented in conditions such as lower back pain, migraine, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome.
The treatment of pain needs to be balanced, by treating physical symptoms, and helping manage mood, sleep, improve exercise capability and social isolation. It is important to take a broad, whole person approach to the treatment, where all parts of life are considered, and use a balance of pharmacological and non-pharmacological options.
NZ Pain Society President, Erica Gleeson explains the basics of managing chronic pain.
Medication
There are medicines that can help with managing the pain. However, not all medications are effective.
Research has shown that humans process medication differently as they get older, and older people also tend to take more medicines than any other age group.
Some medicines helpful for acute pain, are less effective for chronic pain.
Opioids have been found to worsen some chronic pain, due to major side effects including addiction, constipation, and sleepiness. They can also make the pain worse if taken for a prolonged time.
Physical activity
Pain can change not only how we move but can also develop a fear of movement as some may stop moving in case it hurts or increases the pain. However, regular physical activity has been proven safe and can reduce arthritis pain by up to 40 percent. It keeps muscles and joints strong, helps protect against diseases and helps to release endorphins that provide natural or inbuilt pain relief.
Pacing yourself is an important key to successfully introducing and adjusting to living with pain. By learning how to pace work and other everyday activities, it is a useful tool that will allow you to self-manage your pain.
Managing sleep
People who live with chronic pain are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and poor sleep.
Poor sleep can increase sensitivity to pain, potentially reducing mood and quality of life. This can be improved through physical activity, reducing caffeine intake and screen time, and delaying going to bed until feeling sleepy. Yoga, meditation, or listening to relaxation recordings may also help.
Staying social
Living with pain can increase isolation if it limits participation in family life or recreational activities. It is important to stay engaged by joining groups, keeping fit and healthy by staying active and remaining positive.
The New Zealand Pain Society has developed a tool called Navigating Pain. It talks in more depth about understanding pain and gives strategies for managing and living with pain. |
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| Creating an Enduring Power of Attorney, the time to act is now |
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An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) is a legal document that allows you to select who will be responsible for making important decisions on your behalf due to sickness or an injury if you are unable to.
An EPA provides you with peace of mind ahead of time that your wishes will be followed.
A property and financial assets EPA covers decisions about money and assets and can be put into effect at any time.
A personal care and welfare EPA covers decisions about your health, accommodation, and care. It comes into effect only if a medical professional or Family Court decides a person is mentally incapable.
Office for Seniors Director, Diane Turner said: “Whatever your age, we strongly recommend that you set up an EPA as soon as the can. Far too many times I hear of people who have either not done it or have left it too late with unfortunate consequences.
“Regardless of whether you are still working, planning to retire, or already retired, the best time to get an EPA is right now.
“Do your research, talk to friends and family, combine it with getting your will, whatever works for you. Just get it done. In the long run, the benefits will be significant.”
"When you have decided who you would like as your attorney and what you want them to do, you will need to talk to a lawyer who will make sure you understand all your options, what the EPA means, and ensure that it is legal.”
“Creating an EPA does cost money but there are a range of ways to bring down the cost. Some lawyers may let you pay the fee off over time, others offer a SuperGold Card discount and Public Trust offers an online only EPA.”
“The Office for Seniors does not endorse any specific advisor but strongly recommends that you research all options and providers carefully before you make a decision,” she said. |
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| Digital literacy programmes proving worthwhile for Pacific seniors |
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Pacific communities are taking advantage of a movement to improve digital equity and capability for seniors across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Chief Executive of 20/20 Trust Dr Warren Williams has been aligning his organisation with this movement to help Pacific seniors become digitally savvy.
The Trust partnered with the Office for Seniors and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples to deliver digital literacy programmes for Pacific people across the country.
So far, 20/20 Trust have provided digital literacy programmes for more than 400 Pacific people over the past three years.
“Digital technologies and services are increasing, and people need to be able to access these services easily and equitably.”
Dr Williams says it is recognised elders and their families deserve to be digitally included and this initiative provides more affordable access to technology (such as tablets) and digital foundational skills.
“This service is needed so Pacific seniors in Aotearoa can engage and connect with friends, family here and overseas,” he says.
“We want them to access the services they need to enrich their lives, and they are afforded all the opportunities as everyone else who has equitable access to digital technologies.
For more information on the digital literacy programmes currently available check out the Office for Seniors website. |
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Ministry of Social Development
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