DHB spending on services for older people

Older people use more health services than younger people

Older people use 42% of health services (they make up 15% of the population). Population ageing without health improvement will cause this share to increase.

Share of health services used by people aged 65 and over — Source: Ministry of Health, estimate of future demographic-based funding for DHBs based on population growth alone

Source: Ministry of Health, estimate of future demographic-based funding for DHBs based on population growth alone

Spending on services for older people is increasing faster than other expenses

Over the last 10 years, DHB spending on services for older people has increased twice as fast as their overall expenses (68% cf, 27%) and 5 times as fast as the consumer price index (CPI).

Expenditure increase 2005/06 to 2015/16

Rest home care is a large part of the budget

DHBs spend $983 million on support services for older people. 60% of this goes to aged residential care.

Proportional spending on types of support service for older people

The number of older people needing care will increase, but not the proportion

The number of older people needing care will grow, but the proportion of older people needing care is expected to reduce.

Changes in the number and proportion of people in aged residential care

Older people have been using acute hospital services less

Acute hospital bed days for people 65+ (number and rate)

Older people are getting comprehensive clinical assessments

Older people needing support at home or in residential care are receiving comprehensive clinical assessments (interRAI assessments).

InterRAI assessments alert care homes and providers to issues that need to be addressed in the care plan or by referral for further assessment and treatment.