Supported Independent Accommodation for Older New Zealanders: a Review of Current Policy and Innovative Practice

Abstract

Existing research establishes a clear link between poor housing and poor health. There is also growing evidence that the physical, mental and social wellbeing of individuals and households can be improved by ensuring their access to suitable accommodation. Despite the growing body of research documenting the benefits of supported independent accommodation (SIA) as a means of maintaining the independence and wellbeing particularly of older people, there is little research evaluating the place of such accommodation within the New Zealand context. This thesis aims to address that gap. It reviews the existing body of literature surrounding this topic - exploring population and accommodation demographics, and analysing government policy in relation to both housing and health. It considers six New Zealand examples of SIA - each selected on the basis of their distinctiveness and innovation - documents these, and compares them using a case study approach. Adopting a general inductive methodology, each case study is then analysed against themes identified in the literature review, identifying any further trends, and the implications of these for ongoing policy and service development. Intersectoral collaboration is identified as having had particular bearing upon the development of SIA within the New Zealand context. This thesis concludes that SIA will play an increasingly important role in the continuum of accommodation and care for older people. It offers an alternative to more institutionalised models of care for older people, maintaining their independence and social integration within their own community. As demographic and economic factors drive up the cost of more traditional models of residential care, SIA offers government an equally important alternative. However, ongoing development in this area is not without it challenges. To this end, a number of policy implications are also identified and discussed.