67851 (2024). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Associate Minister of Health

67851 (2024). Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan to the Associate Minister of Health: Is the Government entirely confident that the community-based support services for New Zealanders living with dementia are adequately funded and resourced; if not, what immediate plans does the Government have to address this issue; if there are no immediate plans, why?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that Health New Zealand (Health NZ) continues to deliver and monitor seven service trials that are testing improvements to supports for people with dementia, their whanau, and their carers. I am further advised that the Ministry of Health is funding an evaluation of components of the Dementia Mate Wareware Action Plan, in partnership with Health NZ, which will provide important information to inform future service planning and funding decisions. I am also advised that there are a number of funded community-based support services for people with dementia and their whanau. These include direct service contracts with dementia-specific community NGOs, as well as indirectly via home and community support services and the carer support subsidy.