Aged care focus needs shift to patient rights, not profit

Older woman looks outside a window

2 Oct 2024

Frances Matthews

This year, I made submissions to the health select committee about dementia care and aged residential care in this country. Care for cognitively impaired adults is unsafe, unsatisfactory and is now unsustainable. Why else would health select committees be looking at it?

As an older person, a doctor and medicolegal advisor, I have a special interest in the human rights of older people. Over the years, I’ve developed the view that, despite many good intentions, we’ve turned older adults in need of care into commodities, bearers of assets to be stripped, not bearers of rights to be respected.

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Key issues

HEALTH SERVICES AND SYSTEMS

Covering developments in the provision, funding and organisation of health care services.

EQUITY

Exploring the impacts of the health system on minorities within the population, notably including Māori, Pacifica, Asians and LGBTQI.

DRUGS, DEVICE AND DIAGNOSTICS

Covering prescription medicines and medical devices.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Focusing on efforts to promote health and prevent disease through social and economic interventions.

DIGITAL HEALTH

Exploring the potential digital transformation to provide a more connected and accessible health system.

TE TIRITI

Monitoring how the health reforms and the performance of the health sector uphold Te Tiriti obligations.