New Zealand needs to invest more in helping older people remain at home for longer or face mounting pressure on hospitals, residential care and family carers.
To mark International Day of Older Persons (1 October 2026), Presbyterian Support Northern's (PSN) Enliven Home and Disability Support Services is calling on the Government to make ageing at home a national priority.
Enliven General Manager Wendy Hoskin says this year's theme, The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives, highlights the need for the government and communities to rethink how we support an ageing population.
“New Zealand must shift its focus from responding to crises to supporting people earlier and more effectively in their homes.
"Most older people want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. Home is where people feel connected to their memories, communities, routines and whānau. When we invest in helping people stay at home safely, we are investing in dignity, independence and quality of life.”
Hoskin says the question is not whether more people will need support. The question is whether we will build a system that enables older people to thrive at home, or continue to wait until they reach a crisis point and require more intensive and expensive care.
Enliven's own evidence demonstrates the benefits of investing in home-based support.
Its recent Social Return on Investment report found that Enliven's Home-based Support Services generated an estimated $112.4 million in social value, with a social return of $4.33 for every $1 invested.
Hoskin says home-based support also benefits family members and unpaid carers, many of whom shoulder significant responsibilities every day.
"If New Zealand is serious about preparing for people living longer, we must strengthen the support available both to older people and to the people who help care for them.
"Behind every older person living successfully at home there is often a network of family, friends and carers providing support. They also need practical assistance, training, respite and recognition."
Enliven believes home-based support should be recognised as a cornerstone of a sustainable aged care system that enables people to remain active, connected and engaged in their communities for as long as possible.
On this International Day of Older Persons, Enliven is calling on the Government to:
Invest in stronger and more flexible home-based support services.
Increase support, training and respite options for informal carers and whānau.
Accelerate implementation of reforms that strengthen community-based care.
Ensure funding keeps pace with growing demand and the real cost of delivering quality support.
"Longer lives should be something we celebrate," says Hoskin. “But longevity must be matched by systems that allow people to live well.”