Aged Care Workforce

About

Over the next 25 years the number of people in New Zealand aged 65+ will double; they will be a more diverse culturally diverse group; their care needs will change and new models of care will be needed.

• Is your organisation ready to face the multitude of challenges this creates for the aged sector workforce?

• How do you ensure that you have health professionals and caregivers with the right qualifications and experience available?

• And unless the funding structures change; how can you plan ahead to care for higher need elderly in larger numbers with the same resources?

Why you need to attend
Bright*Star’s Inaugural Aged Care Workforce Conference will stimulate discussion around the above points and let you learn from best practice aged care projects currently happening across the sector in New Zealand.

Join us for expert presentations and interactive sessions
Along with expert presentations from geriatricians, nursing experts, academics, residential care providers and community groups you will have the opportunity to take part in interactive sessions, group discussions and roundtables allowing you to voice your opinion, share your experiences and learn from others in this challenging area.

Two for One Deal
Attend this event with a colleague with our special Two for One Deal.  If you register two people from your organisation at the same time, the 2nd person attends free.

2 for 1

Two for One Deal
Attend this event with a colleague with our special Two for One Deal.  If you register two people from your organisation at the same time, the 2nd person attends free.

Agenda

Agenda: Day 1

8.30

Registration & Coffee

9.00

Opening remarks from the Chair

Jan has been the manager of a residential aged care facility, is called upon as an expert witness for the Health and Disability Commission and is involved as a committee member for NZNO.

Jan Featherston, Aged Care Private Consultant

9.10

Quality of Life for Residents in Residential Aged Care

In residential aged care it is essential to have a central focus on residents well being and their quality of care in order for residents to achieve quality in the rest of their lives. This session will focus some of the relationships that impact on this; various factors such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and staffing have been linked to quality of care, resident safety and other quality indicators.

Noeline Whitehead, Clinical Nurse Director for Age Related Residential Care, COUNTIES MANUKAU DHB

10.10

The Changing Composition of New Zealand’s Aged Care Workforce

New Zealand’s aged-care workforce has changed over the last 15 years. The Department of Labour has examined the current supply of paid caregivers, and has projected the demand for paid caregivers over the next 30 years. The Department of Labour has also examined the growing reliance on migrant caregivers over the last 5 years.
• What is the future demand for paid caregivers?
• How have the demographics of the paid caregiver workforce changed?
• What are the implications of this future demand and changing demographics?

Juthika Badkar, Senior Analyst Work Directions, DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR

10.55

Refreshments and Speed Networking

A chance to meet other aged care professionals, network and exchange ideas.

11.25

Interactive Group Discussion

Discuss the key points from the mornings opening presentations.

Facilitated by
Jan Featherston, Aged Care Private Consultant

11.35

Dementia As a Significant Care Issue in Our Ageing Population

The occurrence of dementia is set to increase as the New Zealand population ages placing additional strains on our aged care workforce.
• Dementia types, staging and occurrence predictions
• Is specialised training required for existing and future aged care workers?
• Ensuring good quality assessment and support for patients and their families
• Creating more of an awareness and support system for informal carers

Tony Lawson, Gerontology Nurse Specialist TPH, BAY OF PLENTY DHB; Deputy Chair, ALZHEIMERS NEW ZEALAND

12.20

Changing the Scope of Practice – The Rise of the Nurse Practitioner

In New Zealand there are only just over 60 nurse practitioners; a nurse practitioner is an experienced and highly educated health professional able to diagnose, order tests and prescribe medication and treatment while still providing expert nursing care.
• The importance of nurse practitioners in aged care
• Increasing the number and scope of nurse practitioners in aged care in New Zealand
• Changing the scope of practice – taking on extra responsibilities
• Talented people waiting in the wings – bureaucratic delays and legislation

Denise Thatcher, Gerontology Nurse Practitoner A+ Links Home and Older People’s Health, AUCKLAND DHB

1.05

Lunch

1.55

A Complex Intervention to Support Rest Home Care - The Counties Manukau Experience

Counties Manukau DHB is currently developing a model of care which aims to support the aged related residential care workforce (GPs, Nurses, Community Pharmacists). Dr Sankaran will discuss how an integrated model of care has been developed between the DHB’s secondary and primary care services, the focus placed on medication review for the frail elderly, advanced nursing support and advance care planning.

Dr. Shankar Sankaran, Clinical Head and Consultant Geriatrician Community Geriatric Services Adult Rehabilitation & Health of Older people, COUNTIES MANUKAU DHB

2.40

The Way Things Are Done Around Here - Organisational Culture and Outcomes in Residential Care

The OPAL (Older Persons’ Ability Level) study shows that the average age of rest home residents has increased, the average level of dependency has increased (mostly in rest homes), and the staffing mix in facilities has changed over the last 20 years. This presentation will:
• Outline the results of 20 years of change in residential care from the OPAL study
• Discuss how organisational culture in the workforce is related to quality outcomes
• Highlight expected issues arising from the combination of increased dependency and a changing workforce

Dr Ngaire Kerse, Professor and General Practitioner Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND

Please check back later for material

3.25

Afternoon tea

3.40

Roundtables

• Roundtable 1 – Utilising Technology in Aged Care
Facilitated by Elizabeth Niven, Senior Lecturer Department of Osteopathy, UNITEC INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY; Board Member, The SELWYN FOUNDATION

• Roundtable 2 – How can we Improve After Hours Care for the Elderly?
Facilitated by Tanya Bish, Quality and Professional Development Nurse Leader Aged Residential Care, WAITEMATA DHB

• Roundtable 3 – Supporting New Graduates into Aged Residential Care
Facilitated by Sue Adams, Associate Director of Nursing - Primary Health, WAITEMATA DHB

• Roundtable 4 - Discussion Surrounding the OPAL Study and Organisational Culture in Residential Care
Facilitated by Dr Ngaire Kerse, Professor and General Practitioner, Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND

4.30

Summary Remarks from the Chair and End of Day One

4.35

Networking Drinks

Agenda: Day 2

9.00

Welcome Back from the Chair

Jan Featherston, Aged Care Private Consultant

9.05

Aged Care at Waitemata DHB – The Residential Aged Care Integration Programme

The Residential Aged Care Integration Programme at Waitemata DHB is an innovative system which aims to integrate the care of older people who live in aged care facilities and also support Residential Aged Care staff. This session will outline how the programme works, what benefits this programme has for the elderly community and aged care staff and how similar programmes could be implemented further afield.

Janet Parker, Gerontology Nurse Consultant, WAITEMATA DHB

9.50

Insight into Counties Manukau Health of Older People Workforce Development Plan

Counties Manukau DHB has developed a workforce development plan which outlines what the DHB will do to ensure the care of the elderly. This session will outline their plan and identify some of the key areas which all DHBs need to consider.
• Providing support and training to community workers, volunteer services and informal carers
• Maximise the retention of independent living skills in older people
• Working with other services - providing a collaborative and effective health service
• Expand staff numbers who work in aged care services including NASC staff, AT&R ward staff, geriatricians and nurse specialists

Jenni Coles, General Manager Adult Rehabilitation & Health of Older People, COUNTIES MANUKAU DHB

10.35

Morning tea

10.50

He Whanau Katoa Tatou i Roto Tenei Mahi - We Are All in This Work Together!

The focus is vulnerable older Maori women and men, rather than simply older Maori people aged 65 years plus. A conception of the importance of the community in which Maori people participate, of the social, cultural, and political relationships of daily living will be presented.

Dr Mere Kepa, Life and Living in Advanced Age Cohort Study in New Zealand (LiLACS NZ) School of Population Health, UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND

11.30

Developing Culturally Conducive Models of Care for Kaumatua in New Zealand

There will be a rapid increase in the number of Maori aged over 65 in the next decade and this requires changes to the way models of care are delivered.
• Increasing the number of Maori whanau caregivers and registered nurses in the aged care workforce – promoting aged care as an attractive area of the health profession to young Maori
• Encourage and support the retention of kaumatua in their homes – strengthen and develop the Whanau Ora vision of the government
• Recruit and attract more Maori health professionals to aged care roles

Lynda Hare-Rangitauira, Projects and Contracts Manager, WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY PHO

12.10

Lunch

1.00

Panel Discussion: Safety in Aged Care – Patient and Staff Safety Cannot Be Compromised

It is imperative for there to be an acceptable level of both patient and staff safety when caring for the elderly. This panel discussion will discuss how we can manage safety in the workplace for both patients and staff and also discuss where responsibilities for patient and staff safety lie and how these can be enhanced and safeguarded.

Gina Langlands, General Manager – Quality and Risk, BUPA CARE SERVICES
Diana Spratt-Casas, Vice President, NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION OF GERONTOLOGY
Kate Weston, Professional Nursing Advisor, NEW ZEALAND NURSES ORGANISATION

1.35

Mock Exercise and Group Discussion: Sustaining Passion for your Work

Working in the aged care sector is demanding; long and unsociable hours and stressful situations which can include dealing with end-of-life situations sometimes leave workers thinking “why am I doing this?” This session will facilitate discussion and incorporate mock exercises which will pinpoint practical steps you can take to sustain both your own, and your teams, passion for aged care.
• You can’t do everything! – A nurse is not a physiotherapist, speech language therapist and a social worker
• Realising the importance of your work in aged care
• Keeping morale up when the going gets tough

Diana Spratt-Casas, Vice President, NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION OF GERONTOLOGY

2.25

Afternoon tea

2.40

Further Developing the Aged Care Workforce – Attracting and Retaining the Best

Experienced and skilled people are absolutely essential in aged care; staff must be retained in order to further develop and sustain the workforce. What strategies are needed to attract, retain and increase job satisfaction for staff?
• Incentives to work in the aged care sector – should the Voluntary Bonding Scheme include aged care? How to attract school leavers into an aged care career?
• Qualifications – the downside of capping places in health programmes: do we need to create more training places?
• Working out where we are going wrong – Understanding why people leave aged care
• What needs to be done to retain key people and make work attractive again?

Gina Langlands, General Manager – Quality and Risk, BUPA CARE SERVICES

Speaker declined permission for material to be online

3.25

Communication Workshop: Communication is the Key

Ensuring adequate and appropriate communication is undertaken between staff, elderly patients and their families during times of need.
• Effective staff communication – making sure it’s a safe culture for all concerned with clear guidelines and consultation systems
• Communication difficulties with other ethnicities – ensuring the patients and staff are able to communicate effectively despite cultural and language differences
• Understanding the wants and needs of clients and their families
• Communicating effectively in tricky situations – how to manage conversations relating to tough decisions, rights and responsibilities

Janferie Bryce-Chapman, Executive Officer, AGE CONCERN NORTH SHORE

4.15

Summing up and Group Discussion

4.25

End of Conference

Sponsors/Partners

Interested in sponsorship?

There are some exclusive opportunities to promote your company, and its products and services, at this leading event. Contact the sponsorship team below to request a prospectus or discuss the options, or view more about event sponsorship.