The Home and Community Health Association's recent conference in Wellington prompted rich discussions and debate around the issues at the heart of the home and community support services sector (HCSS). JUDE BARBACK reports.

After attending the recent NZACA and HCHA conferences, INsite editor JUDE BARBACK reflects on the collective challenges facing the residential aged care and home care sectors and what it all means.

Home and community support services are under threat because the current funding model for the sector is unsustainable.

Low wages, high workloads and stress outweigh the love of the job for New Zealand’s aged care workforce.

A new Office of Social Services and more investment in data technology are among the recommendations proposed by the New Zealand Productivity Commission aimed to improve our social services system.

The Industry Training Federation calls for Government to better support training for care and community support workers.

ANNA DORSEY talks to Ruby Aberhart (pictured here with Hon Jo Goodhew) about her role of Consumer Advocate for the South Island Alliance’s Health of Older People’s Group (HOPSLA).

Bupa's GRAINNE MOSS shares sthe touching story of Bupa employee Kate Burnett and resident Mary.

The home and community support sector has welcomed the Government’s announcement today to support an agreement that will see community support workers paid for time spent travelling between clients and fairly reimbursed for travel costs.

JUDE BARBACK looks at the benefits, challenges, practicalities and limitations of intergenerational activities.

Collaborative analysis of the first set of interRAI data with other health data sets from the South Island Alliance and the University of Canterbury has helped to inform health service development.

JUDITH DAVEY discusses the practical and ethical considerations of introducing assistive technology into aged care.

Massey University’s PROFESSOR FIONA ALPASS reflects on the latest findings from the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement Study, which reveal some of the challenges faced by informal caregivers.

JUDE BARBACK catches up with MyCare chief executive and founder Mark Jeffries about how the new home care worker matching service will work with New Zealand’s home and community support services sector.

As the Home and Community Support Services (HCSS) sector is inching towards change, chief executive of Home and Community Health Association (HCHA) JULIE HAGGIE reflects on what it all means for employers, employees and clients.

The Director-General of Health’s report to the Ministry of Health on the state of New Zealand’s home and community support services (HCSS) describes the sector as being “in a fragile state”. It says “that doing nothing is not an option”. This report was completed in August 2015. Yet still, a sector waits for change.

Policy advisor at the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services PAUL BARBER discusses two projects aimed at exploring the added value of community-based social services.

Home and Community Health Association chief executive JULIE HAGGIE asks why the Government has allowed the second part of the In Between Travel Time Settlement – made last year between unions, providers and the Government – to dwindle away.

Julie Haggie says “grown-up contracting behaviour by funders and providers” is needed to help achieve her vision for the community support worker role.

Garth Bennie discusses what will likely influence how the aged care sector interacts with people with disabilities in the future.

Bill Veth tells JOHN ALLIN that living with kidney disease needn’t restrict his life, thanks to his dialysis home support team.

Access chief executive GRAEME TITCOMBE was recently presented with a lifetime achievement award at the 2015 Home and Community Health Association Conference Awards. Here, he discusses the limitations to providing a nationally consistent and effective home support service.

NGAIRE KERSE gives an update on the fascinating LiLACS NZ study in which the quality of life for a large group of Māori and non-Māori in their eighties has been monitored and analysed over five years.

JUDE BARBACK looks at a recent dance and dementia project that has had a lasting impact.

BEATRICE HALE looks beyond the jargon surrounding healthy ageing and is heartened to discover a wide range of services and providers that cater to the social health needs of older people.

Home and Community Health Association’s Conference 2015 28–30 April 2015, Auckland.

JUDE BARBACK returns to her hometown of Matamata to visit Pohlen Hospital.

The end of April saw a flurry of reports released, all with relevance to New Zealand’s home and community support services.

SHELLEY JONES looks at recent research on actual risk of falling and perceived risk, and the implications for older people.

JUDE BARBACK talks to Julie Haggie from the Home & Community Health Association about what the home-based care sector hopes will emerge from the New Zealand Productivity Commission’s inquiry into more effective social services.

MAX REID draws attention to the growing demand for a service model that addresses the specific needs of older people with both age-related and mental health needs.

Since introducing INsite’s ‘snoop around’ column, I’ve visited and reported back on many rest homes and retirement villages but never a homecare organisation. Of course, the very nature of home-based care makes it considerably more difficult to ‘snoop around’, but it didn’t stop me from contacting Debra Jager, manager of Home Instead Tauranga, to see if she might be willing for me to pop by.

The new Minister for Senior Citizens makes her introductions. 

INsite gets a peek into the world of a man who suffered a stroke and now receives long-term care but still dreams of playing golf with Prime Minister John Key.

RON EMERSON, global director of healthcare for Polycom, discusses how video technology is improving healthcare for older New Zealanders.

Needs assessor, Vanessa Taylor, believes she has “the best job in the world”.

President of Grey Power Federation ROY REID believes good progress is being made towards better care for the aged.

CAROLINE BARTLE provides a comprehensive checklist for identifying areas of the home that could be enhanced to support and improve the quality of daily life for the individual living with dementia.

JUDE BARBACK looks at the ins and outs surrounding advance care planning in New Zealand. 

JUDE BARBACK considers the burdens placed on the older person caring for their spouse or partner and what support is out there for them.

Colin Mathura-Jeffree tells INsite what inspired him to become Alzheimer’s New Zealand’s Champion for Dementia.

CLARE HITCHCOCK shares her experience as a volunteer driver for the Matamata Community Health Shuttle.

PHILIPPA FLETCHER discusses what is being done to support the older people of Canterbury as Christchurch continues its recovery.

With a fragmented and inconsistent approach to funding across the country, the home and community support services sector is struggling to meet growing demand for its services. JUDE BARBACK looks at some of the key concerns facing the sector.

BEATRICE HALE discusses the realities confronting family carers.

INsite chats to a shopping service co-ordinator for Age Concern.