1820 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health

1820 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter July to September 2024 on the action ‘Commission and/or deliver equitable, tailored, person-directed, culturally appropriate and quality assured support services for people with dementia mate wareware, family and whānau, and care partners based on holistic health models such as Te Whare Tapa Whā, including as the first priorities for improvement at least 12 months’ post-diagnosis support to equip people to live their best possible lives, including but not limited to information on what to expect, the services available and their rights’ under the objective ‘Support people living with dementia mate wareware and their family /whānau supporters/care partners to live their best possible lives’ within Te Whatu Ora’s Improving Dementia Mate Wareware Services in Aotearoa New Zealand Action Plan?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that during the July to September 2024 quarter, the seven service trials commissioned in June 2023 under the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan continued to be delivered by providers. These trials focus on priority populations, including Māori, Pacific, people living in rural areas, and people with younger onset dementia mate wareware. The trials prioritise three areas: - innovative respite care options to support carers and whānau; - post diagnostic supports for people with dementia mate wareware, their whānau and carers; and, - navigator roles to coordinate and support people to access the supports they need. I am further advised that during the quarter, a procurement process was run to find a third party to evaluate the service trials through to 2027. The findings will provide important information for the planning of new dementia services.