Experts' views on long-term care in New Zealand

This study reports findings from the first national survey of long-term care opinion leaders in New Zealand.

Potential respondents were chosen purposively based on their knowledge and experience in long-term care policy and planning. Questions focused on assessing views regarding long-term care quality, financing, services, workforce, organisation, and regulation. The survey was administered via Web-based format during May-June 2007. Seventy-three individuals responded for an overall response rate of 47.7%.

Experts support cost-sharing, insurance, and individual savings/preparation as supplements to predominately government-based financing. They view increased compensation and improved work environments as the key to recruiting/retaining paraprofessionals and educational assistance and curriculum reform as the key to attracting professionals. Most would expand access to home-based support through adoption of comprehensive service packages and various navigational aides (e.g. care coordination, counselling). Consumer-direction and public payment of family members were also deemed desirable. There was a lack of knowledge regarding emerging models of culture change/client-centred care in long-term care. Promoting quality by advising providers about how to improve quality and increasing public availability of comparative provider information was highlighted.

There are varying degrees of consensus regarding the kinds of solutions to long-term care problems that are viable from a policy perspective. Results should help determine how best to improve the current system to meet the needs of the growing elderly population.