Government Responds to Health Committee Report on Aged Care for Neurological Disorders

The Government has welcomed the Health Committee’s report following its inquiry into aged care support services for people experiencing neurological cognitive disorders. The formal response to the inquiry was tabled in Parliament today.

The inquiry was a commitment in the New Zealand First-National coalition agreement.

New Zealand has very good aged care, but there are challenges in the system that are well-understood, and need to be addressed Associate Health Minister Casey Costello says.

This report makes a valuable contribution to the work underway to strengthen services.

The Government is committed to ensuring that people needing aged care, including those with neurological cognitive disorders are supported and able to access the right services, in the right place and at the right time The Health Committee launched its inquiry into neurological cognitive disorders, like dementia, in 2024.  It received more than 100 submissions and visited several aged care facilities and service providers across the country.

The Committee’s report made 14 recommendations on improving support for people with neurological cognitive disorders. These relate to access to aged residential care, home and community support services, carers and the aged care workforce.

The Government’s formal response to the inquiry notes all the recommendations.

Many of the report’s recommendations will be considered through the work already underway on aged care, including through the Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group, Ms Costello says.

The Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group was established last year to provide independent recommendations to Ministers on the sustainability and future direction of the aged care system.

It is expected to provide advice and recommendations to Ministers by mid-2026 and will consider the Health Committee’s report as part of this work.

The Government thanks the Health Committee and all submitters for their contributions, which will inform the wider aged care work programme, Ms Costello says.

We are committed to ensuring older people, including those with neurological cognitive disorders, can access timely, high-quality services that support them to live and age well.