“The Government will
provide $92 million over four years to pay carers who look
after their own disabled adult family members with high or
very high needs, Health Minister Tony Ryall says.
This is in response to the Court of Appeal’s decision
in Ministry of Health v Atkinson and others.
“Our society expects parents to care for and support
their dependent children,” Mr Ryall says. “But
the Court of Appeal ruled that this ‘social contract’
does not extend to continuing to care for adult sons and daughters
who have a lifelong disability.
“We recognise the important role of families in providing
care and support to their disabled family members. This new
policy is a significant investment in family care and will
give more disabled people and their families more choice and
control in the support they receive.”
Ministry of Health funding will now be available to around
1,600 disabled people with high and very high needs to pay
some family members to provide personal care and household
management. The estimated cost is $23 million a year.
“Disabled adults who meet the eligibility criteria will
be able to choose whether they employ a family carer or continue
to use a contracted provider.
“We need to balance the interests of those who are being
cared for, the families, and the taxpayers. We are addressing
the issue, but we must also be able to afford it,” Mr
Ryall says.
“This adds to the extra $100 million the Government
is spending on disability support services over the next four
years to meet population changes and cost pressures, bringing
the total investment to a record $1.1 billion next year.”
Legislation for the new policy will be introduced as Budget
day legislation. It is expected the policy will take effect
on 1 October 2013.
Writer - Researcher
Ross Flood
rflood@cpsociety.org.nz |
