National
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Lynda?s maiden name was Brooker and her family came from Hawarden in North Canterbury. Lynda herself grew up in the Kenepuru Sound and began schooling at Waitaria Bay School. She completed her schooling in Christchurch at Mariehau High School, before moving to Wellington to train as a nurse then Auckland to train as a doctor. She was elected to Parliament in 1999 and has been rapidly promoted from number 36 to 13 due to her knowledge of health, senior citizens and disability issues.
TERTIARY EDUCATION
National Party Involvement
Family Details Married to David who has a PhD in Educational History. She has one son, Nathan, who is a computer analyst living in Shanghai, married to Joyce. Recreational Interests Lynda has always been a keen sportswoman. At High School she was Captain of the Basketball Team and a prefect. She went on to become a Tall Black and toured Australia as an U18 representative. These days she partners her husband David on the tennis court and also enjoys tramping, swimming and fishing. Gardening has always been a hobby but has become something of a passion since returning home to Marlborough. Community Involvement
Contact Details Phone: 03 577 6930 Fax: 03 577 6934 |
Email: lynda.scott@national.org.nz
Website: www.lyndascottmp.co.nz
Positive Ageing With Dignity - Senior Citizens' Policy
Executive Summary
Older New Zealanders have given a lifetime to this country as it has grown and developed. Our senior citizens deserve our respect and should have dignity in retirement. Retirement can be a time of new challenges and rewards as we take the opportunity to do the things we did not have time for during our (official) working lives. As improved health has extended the retirement years most older New Zealanders continue to want to stay active, self-reliant and to maintain their independence for as long as possible within their community.
We want older people to feel safe in their homes, in their communities, and to have opportunities to continue to contribute.
While having a strategy for older people is important you also need a plan to implement it. This will be our goal.
Maintaining Independence
National will:- Assist people to remain independent in their own home and community for as long as possible in safety, through an Ageing at Home policy.
- Increase funding for carer relief and education services and increase funding to aged residential care services to meet quality standards.
- Ensure every DHB has a comprehensive Health Service for Older New Zealanders.
- Investigate the separation of health services for older people from disability support.
- Improve rural access by improving the rural workforce (e.g. GP locum relief, loan rebatement schemes to attract GPs to rural areas.)
- Give urgent attention to increasing the funding for hearing aids.
Security
National will:- Provide New Zealand superannuation at 65% of the average wage for a couple at age 65 years.
- Encourage personal savings, thus enabling individuals to attain greater financial security in retirement by giving a tax incentives for private superannuation.
- Ensure protection for seniors in retirement villages and protect them from elder abuse.
Positively Extending Older Years
National will:- Implement a Veterans Card.
- Support specific programmes that deal with new technology for older people, e.g. electronic banking and internet use.
- Have a mature employment strategy.
Introduction
National wishes to support older New Zealanders in all their endeavours and enable them to stay in their own homes and communities as long as possible. We recognise that positive ageing includes physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual well being. We wish to see support services providing safe and appropriate care, rehabilitation services available after illness, and support for the carers. We will ensure improved standards in rest homes, dementia units and hospitals.
Only 6.7% of over 65 year-olds are in residential care. 93% live independently. There are long-term benefits for all if our older citizens can remain fit, healthy and in their own homes for as long as possible. This will require a healthy life style, education, assessment and ongoing support for both those who are in need, and their families.
We will work together with iwi, hapu, whanau and Maori communities to develop strategies for appropriate services for older Maori people.
National?s Approach
Part 1 Maintaining Independence
National will aim for seniors to have the opportunity to stay physically and mentally active, able to manage chronic disabilities when this occurs and ensure that older New Zealanders get the best possible care when needed, with no barriers based on age. We believe in assisting people to remain independent and living in their own homes and environment for as long as possible so long as they are safe. When care is needed, older people must have access to quality residential care.Services need to be flexible as many older New Zealanders may need short term care in a crisis but can then return to independence. Each D.H.B must have comprehensive health services that can deliver a continuum of care and include Assessment Treatment and Rehabilitation services.
The majority of elderly with disabilities are cared for either by family members, friends, and neighbours or formal home care agencies Recognition of this is essential. Funding for carers? relief, and education will enhance the quality of community-based care. The right balance must be struck between formal and informal care. When formal care is required, rest homes, dementia units and hospital care must be appropriately funded to be able to meet quality standards.
Currently health services for older New Zealanders are combined with disability support services. Many feel this does not meet the needs of younger disabled or older people. It is time to examine whether the two areas should be separated and older persons? health devolved to District Health Boards.
National believes in maintaining the community services card with an expanded application in recognition of the vast contribution older people have made to their families and communities
Rural communities often face major challenges in accessing the same level of care that is available within urban New Zealand. There is a need to co-ordinate care and support for older rural people by liasing with community based organizations ensuring access to emergency services in rural areas and maintain doctor and nursing services by improving the rural workforce, (e.g. GP locum relief, loan rebatement schemes to attract GPs to rural areas).
The incidence of dementia in older years is increasing and poses a challenge for the future in diagnosis, treatment and care. Recognition of this trend and appropriate planning will be part of the planning for a comprehensive Aged Care service.
Seventy-five percent of disability home care provision is to people over 65 years of age. Recognition of the barriers to participation that disabilities cause older New Zealanders is essential. Sight and hearing disabilities increase with age. Deafness especially leads to social isolation and withdrawal.
National will:
- Assist people to remain independent in their own home and community for as long as possible in safety, through the Ageing at Home policy.
- Increase funding for carer relief and education and increase funding to aged residential care facilities to meet quality standards.
- Ensure every DHB has a dedicated Health Service for Older People.
- Investigate the separation of health services for older people from disability support.
- Improve rural access by improving the rural workforce (e.g. GP locum relief, loan rebatement schemes to attract GPs to rural areas).
- Give urgent attention to increasing the funding for hearing aids.
Part 2 Security
Superannuation is a right of citizenship.Superannuation and private saving remain key political questions for all New Zealanders. National believes in financial independence by encouraging self-provision of retirement income via tax incentives. Retirement planning is required.
National understands the need to provide certainty in superannuation to allow for financial planning by New Zealand superannuation for current retirees and those approaching retirement.
Elder abuse is an increasing problem especially financial abuse. National will support retirement villages legislation to provide protection for older New Zealanders who choose to live in a retirement village. We will continue to expand elder abuse services and investigate that need for legislative change.
Older New Zealanders need to feel safe within their communities. National will take a tougher stance on violent crime.
National will:
- Provide New Zealand superannuation at 65% of the average wage for a couple at 65 years.
- Encourage personal savings thus enabling individuals to attain greater financial security in retirement by giving tax incentives for private superannuation.
- Ensure protection for seniors in retirement villages and protect them from elder abuse.
Part 3 Positively Extending Older Years
Challenging the myth that age means dependency.Fitness and diet are essential for physical and mental health. Health promotion and early intervention will be a focus of our health policy as will the management of chronic disease.
Paid employment/mature employment. Future generations of older people will be better educated, have better health and more financial resources than their parents. These developments open up new possibilities for individuals and the community, including the potential for a longer life span of waged and unwaged activity.
Graduated retirement planning and part-time work is likely to expand. There will be need for more flexible working patterns for older New Zealanders.
Valuing volunteers: acknowledging the work they do and clarifying their role in NGOs.
Funding and support for specific programmes that deal with new technology for older people may be enhanced by a capacity building fund. The aim will be to encourage older people to use new technology and not revert to systems of the past, e.g. training in EFTPOS not the "People?s Bank". Encourage private business to monitor and respond to the needs of older citizens.
National wishes to recognize the contribution of New Zealand servicemen and women via the introduction of a Veterans Card. This card will give veterans priority access to health care services when there is an assessed need.
National will:
- Implement a Veterans Card.
- Support specific programmes that deal with new technology for older people, e.g. electronic banking and internet use.
- Have a mature employment strategy.
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