Speaking notes: Positive Ageing Expo

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

I would like to start by acknowledging Tasman District Council Mayor Richard Kempthorne, and my colleague local MP Dr Nick Smith and Labour’s Damien O'Connor.

Thank you all for being here today, and thank you for inviting me to speak to you on a subject I love talking about – positive ageing and ageing positively.

As Melbourne University Professor of Gerontology and Social Policy Simon Biggs said in Wellington recently – rather than being about us going into “old age”, we are “living a long life”.

Getting older should be about living longer and accepting that as we live longer, our needs change.

It’s about finding out how you can get the most out of life and about what services can meet your needs as they change.

I’d also like to offer a huge thank you to two of the big drivers of today, Gail Collingwood, chair of the Nelson-Tasman Positive Ageing Forum, and Ruby Aberhart – QSM.

Ruby was chair of the Nelson Tasman Positive Ageing Forum for eight years.

She is a fantastic Positive Ageing Ambassador and is one of the Office for Senior Citizens’ Volunteer Community Coordinators or VCCs.

Ruby does a wonderful job in ensuring the older people in her community have what they need and represent vigorously.

You’ve very likely heard these stats before: 635-thousand New Zealanders are now aged over 65.

In just the last two years the numbers of those aged over 65 has risen by over 48,000 – that’s around the size of the population of those living here in Nelson.

By 2031, it’s predicted there will be around 1.1 million older New Zealanders; that will be just over a fifth of the total population.

In the Nelson-Tasman area, the older population is expected to increase to 28% of the Nelson-Tasman population by 2031.

We know an older population can bring many positives if we make the right preparations.

I’m excited by how your region takes an active – and positive – view on the needs of your residents.

In particular, the Nelson Tasman Positive Ageing Forum has been running for over ten years and has a staunch base of attendees, from volunteers to government agencies, health providers and leisure and recreation providers and groups.

The forum is a great way to exchange information and network it out into the wider community.

The forum has frequently picked up and promoted projects such as the emergency information card, the medication record cards, and the Car Fit Programme.

Nelson-Tasman is often one of the first areas to embrace a new programme or idea to support older people.

I know the Stoke Seniors group, for example, runs wonderful programmes for older people returning home from hospital.

The “Walking in another’s shoes” programme and CAPTEL phone installation are also being taken up in your area.

You may have heard of the Positive Ageing Strategy.

This strategy is about creating a society where older people are valued and recognised as an integral part of their families and communities.

To achieve this, the strategy has ten goals that guide policy across local and central government.

They cover the good health, financial security, independence, self-fulfillment, personal safety and living environment of older New Zealanders.

The Government has been very busy in these areas, and things are happening in your region.

I launched two documents in October last year which illustrate how this Government has been putting the Strategy into action, and highlights how much older people contribute not only to New Zealand’s society but to the economy as well.

One of the documents, called “Older New Zealanders: Healthy, independent, connected and respected” reaffirms the Government’s commitment to the Positive Ageing Strategy.

That document is a good summary of what’s going on across government to shape the future of older New Zealanders so they can live life to the full.

That’s services such as health, housing, transport, residential care and income support.

The update on “the Business of Ageing” report takes account of how much older New Zealanders contribute to the economy, as workers – around 20 per cent of over 65s are still in paid work - as consumers, and importantly as volunteers.

Reducing social isolation of older people is a top priority for me.

Social connection to friends, family and community is good for our health and wellbeing, at all ages.

Staying connected can be about getting out and about, doing voluntary work, joining a club or activity, or being visited at home.

It can also be about knowing you have someone to call if you have a problem and I’m really pleased to see that Life Linc Nelson – which used to be called LifeLine Nelson – has re-established its home-line service for anyone who needs to talk.

Transport also plays a huge part in staying connected.

Last week I launched a pamphlet highlighting ways people can get around their local community.

There are many options.

For some it’s driving, for others mobility scooters or community buses.

And by the way if you are interested in getting a copy of the pamphlet just let the Office of Senior Citizens know and they’ll send one out to you.

But of course there’s also public transport – and at the top of the list - buses.

And that brings me to a topic that’s dear to my heart, the SuperGold card.

The SuperGold Card provides free off peak travel for public transport which I know is especially useful for those you living in places like Nelson.

Since the concessions were launched in October 2008, SuperGold Card holders across New Zealand have taken around 52-and-a-half million trips - that’s a lot of travel.

When I became Minister, I vowed to make sure the card was more than free off-peak travel on public transport, because that discriminates against the many older New Zealanders who do not have access to public transport.

The SuperGold card is now about more than public transport.

In the last two years the number of business outlets offering cardholders holders discounts has almost quadrupled – and is now more than 11-thousand outlets.

Here in the Nelson/Tasman area around 280 businesses offer a SuperGold discount. 

The ongoing growth and success of this programme means that older people can continue to stretch their dollar further by using their SuperGold Card, and remain active and connected in their communities.

A well-connected community reduces the risk of elder abuse and neglect.

Preventing elder abuse and neglect is another of my top priorities.

Through various means – including the It’s Not OK campaign – we are encouraging people to speak up about abuse.

Elder abuse can include financial abuse.

One of the themes of this Expo is the need for older New Zealanders to retain their right to make their own decisions.

In 2007, amendments were made to the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988, relating to Enduring Powers of Attorney.

Last year, I reviewed those amendments to see if they were working and whether any changes were required and I plan to report my findings to the House by the end of June.

Access to home support is another theme of this Expo.

Most older people want to live in their own home and most do.

We recognise this, so the Government increased funding in 2013’s Budget, and committed 20 million of additional funding over four years for home support services.

I recently launched the latest Carers’ Strategy Action Plan.

This sets out a number of actions we will take to support carers – family, aiga and whānau – in their care-giving role.

Today’s Expo brings together a wide range of information in one place so that you find out where, what, who and how services and information can be sourced.

Here in New Zealand, we have plenty to be positive about as we live longer, and I feel honoured that part of my job is to make sure that happens.

All too often we read headlines about the costs of population ageing – but it’s all about perspective and attitude.

As a society we need to recognize that change lies before us, and adapt our culture to one that accepts living longer as a given. I this is a challenge we must embrace.

Expos such as this one show a lot of change is already underway and I’m delighted to be a part of it.

The seminar coming up is “Staying active and in control – getting the support you need.”

In that, Dr Jenny Keightley will update us on home-based support, respite and restorative care.

Dr Keightley is the chair of the South Island Alliance Health of Older People, and is – like many people in her field – a strong advocate for the rights of older people to live well as they live longer.

Thank you.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.