How Should We Care for the Carers, Now and Into the Future? Manaaki tangata

How Should We Care for the Carers, Now and Into the Future? Manaaki tangata
Date of publication: March 2010

Summary of publication

This report makes recommendations to the Minister of Health about how to better support and provide services for informal carers. The National Health Committee considers that informal carers need to be well supported in their role, to protect their health and wellbeing so they can provide care in a sustainable and positive way.

The Committee has defined an informal carer as someone who cares for a friend, family member or neighbour who because of sickness, frailty or disability, can't manage everyday living without help or support.

New Zealand's health and disability system is facing several pressures, including an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of long-term conditions. These trends are likely to significantly increase the demand for family and friends to provide care. Therefore, carers are becoming integral to the sustainability of the health and disability sustem, because they care for people with a variety of needs who may otherwise require support from publicly funded services.

The report's recommendations are grouped into the following sections:

Reducing fragmentation in the care system
Achieving national consistency and local flexibility of services
Raising awareness
Improving workforce capability
Preparing for the future

The Committee would like to thank everyone who participated in the research that informed this project. Your willingness to share your stories provided the Committee with valuable insights into the ongoing commitment informal carers make to the people they care about.

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Publishing information

Date of publication: March 2010

ISBN numbers: 978-0-478-35903-9 (print), 978-0-478-35904-6 (online)

Citation: National Advisory Committee on Health. 2010. How Should We Care for the Carers, Now and Into the Future? Manaaki tangata. Wellington: National Advisory Committee on Health.