New Zealand’s aged care sector is sounding the alarm over growing workforce shortages and mounting pressure on residential care services, warning that failures in aged care will have serious consequences across the entire health system.
The New Zealand Aged Care Association says the country urgently needs a coordinated national workforce strategy as demographic pressures increase and the demand for aged residential care continues to grow. Sector leaders argue that aged care is a critical part of the wider health system and cannot be treated as a separate issue.
Industry representatives are concerned recent immigration and workforce policy changes could make it more difficult to recruit and retain the nurses, healthcare assistants and specialist staff needed to care for an ageing population. They say workforce planning is currently being approached in a fragmented way rather than through a long-term strategy involving health, immigration, education and population planning.
The warning comes as New Zealand’s population continues to age, placing increasing demand on hospitals, primary care services, home support providers and residential care facilities.
Health experts say when aged care capacity is stretched, the effects quickly flow through the wider system. Older patients can experience longer hospital stays because suitable aged care placements are unavailable, while emergency departments and hospital wards face increased pressure when vulnerable older people cannot access appropriate support in the community.
The issue is particularly significant for rural communities, where workforce shortages are often more acute and access to specialist health services is already limited.
Advocates say Māori kaumātua face additional challenges, including access to culturally appropriate care and support services that reflect tikanga Māori and whānau-centred models of care.
The aged care sector is also competing with hospitals and other healthcare providers for a limited pool of qualified staff, creating recruitment challenges that providers say are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.
Industry leaders are calling for a comprehensive workforce plan that includes:
- Improved pathways for nurse and caregiver recruitment
- Better workforce retention initiatives
- Targeted immigration settings for healthcare workers
- Greater investment in training and professional development
- Long-term planning aligned with population growth and ageing trends
Providers warn that without action, staffing shortages could worsen as demand increases over the coming decade.
Health advocates say strengthening aged care is not only about supporting older New Zealanders but also ensuring hospitals and primary care services can function effectively.
The sector says investment in aged care should be viewed as investment in the health system as a whole, with growing evidence that well-supported aged care services reduce pressure on hospitals and improve health outcomes for older people.
As policymakers continue to grapple with health system reform and workforce challenges, aged care leaders are urging the Government to place the needs of older New Zealanders at the centre of future planning decisions.
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