New Kaupapa Maori Home Based Support Services

These services are designed to improve Máori health and reduce inequalities. 

Nurse – Led Kaupapa Maori Community-Based services
Dedicated Kaupapa respite care beds
Community packages of care
Community-based Maori Assessors

On average the Maori population aged 65 years and over is projected to grow by 144.4% by the year 2016.

Equally important is the age group for Maori from 50 to 64 years of age who are close in interest to Kaumatua 65 years and over. It is expected that a percentage of this age group will be eligible to access home based support services.

Nurse – Led Kaupapa Maori Community-Based Services

Funding has been approved for the training and employment of six nurse-led Kaupapa Maori community-based services in rural and at-need communities, two in the western Bay of Plenty and four in the eastern Bay.

An advantage of the new service is its ability to reach hard-to-access areas of community.

The nurse practitioners work with doctors and the local community-based services. They are able to follow up and support people with chronic conditions in rural areas, and monitor people who have returned home to ensure they are progressing well.

The services provide another care option for Maori other than through a doctor. Funding has also been set aside to provide screening and early assessment to reduce the impact of chronic diseases.

Kaupapa Koroua and Kuia Early Intervention Services have received extra funding to expand the services offered on marae in the region. The programme encourages senior Maori to attend regular gatherings where health checks, social activities, lifestyle advice and medical treatment are offered, free of charge.

Dedicated Kaupapa Respite Care Beds

Kaupapa Respite Care beds allow the carer to take a break so that they are able to support their family member at home for longer.

There has been an increase in Kaumatua moving to residential care and a further need for residential care when Kaumatua are discharged from hospital.

Often they have more than one condition and require a high level of care.

Discussions with health providers and clients revealed that one of the main reasons older people receiving disability support in the community enter residential care is carer ‘burn out’. Often the carer is a family member or spouse.

Short-term residential care for Kaumatua and Kuia gives carers valuable time to attend to their own needs.  This is often enough to allow them to resume their role.

Kaupapa Community Packages of Care

Over time older people can become isolated as they lose a spouse or can no longer easily visit friends and family. Living alone, cut off from their social supports can leave them vulnerable to depression.

These Packages of Care run parallel with ‘Enliven’ a day programme that reconnects older people with their communities, providing opportunities for social interaction and various activities and outings.  Supervision from health professionals ensures that any conditions can be managed as part of overall wellbeing.

A successful trial run in 2006 kept valuable health carers in the workforce and achieved greater independence and health gains for people with multiple health problems. The trial was then extended to those with less complex needs.

Kaupapa Community Packages of Care delivered by Maori for Maori supports the BOPDHB’s Programmes of Care for Older People.

Maori Assessors based in the Community

People living in isolated rural towns like Ruatahuna sometimes found it hard to obtain an appointment to be reassessed for disability support.  This left them without the support they needed.

Two new Maori Assessors are now working in the community where they can help more quickly.