New Zealand’s Social Wellbeing Agency built a data explorer tool on the experiences of older people aged 65 or older. This data tool includes data across five life areas of older people’s experiences, including: health, housing, finance, social connection, and access along with data on multiple disadvantage experiences or vulnerability experiences in two or more of these areas. The data that the tool provides will serve as an evidence base for policy makers, social service providers, and decision-makers.
New Zealand’s Data Explorer on the well-being of older people (65+ years)
Abstract
According to the 2018 Census (New Zealand), about 715,200 New Zealanders, or 15 percent of the population, are aged over 65. Due to declining fertility rates, the ageing of the baby boomers’ generation and an increase in average life expectancy, the over 65 age group will increasingly account for a larger proportion of the country’s population. Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ) projects this group will increase to about 1 million people or 19 percent of the population by 2028.
New Zealand’s population is ageing, and people are living longer. This will likely mean that the number of older people experiencing vulnerability and multiple disadvantage will also increase, which could lead to poorer outcomes later in life. In 2019, the New Zealand Government launched a national strategy, Better Later Life He Oranga Kaumātua Strategy 2019 to 2034, to understand and better service the multifaceted needs of older people. The Social Wellbeing Agency worked with the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Health to build an evidence base on the experiences of older people that would enable evidence-based policy framing for older people.
The data explorer tool “Experiences of people 65 and over in Aotearoa, New Zealand, as at 2018” used the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) to estimate and characterise the experiences of older people in health, housing, finance, social connection, and access. These life areas or domains aligned with New Zealand’s Better Later Life Strategy He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034 – the strategy for New Zealand’s ageing population. A set of indicators was used to measure vulnerability aligned with these domains. The indicators were developed as quantitative metrics to measure hardship. The project focused on understanding people’s experiences of multiple disadvantage (vulnerability across multiple domains), as this helps identify overlapping and more complex needs. The findings of this project were published in the report Older people experiencing vulnerability and multiple disadvantage in New Zealand in June 2023. The dashboard visualises the data used in the report.
Along with indicators for each of the domains and multiple disadvantage, the tool has demographic, regional and deprivation index filters that allow users to understand the experiences of specific groups of older people. The New Zealand deprivation index is an index of socioeconomic deprivation based on census information.
The research was based on 2018 Census data as it includes information on home ownership and other socio-economic variables that are not available elsewhere. The picture of need in the data is likely understated due to the impacts of the cost of living, COVID-19 pandemic, Auckland floods, and Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand.
The dashboard shows a nuanced and complex picture of hardship within the older cohort and is being used to inform and support future policy options. Further, social sector agencies, service providers, advocacy groups are utilising this evidence to explore options to improve services and supports for older people and intervene earlier in the life course. This is to improve outcomes for people as they age, while also alleviating cost pressures across government systems.
Regional Economic Activity Web Tool, Deprivation index in New Zealand website, https://webrear.mbie.govt.nz/summary/new-zealand?accessedvia=bay-of-plenty (accessed 19 April 2024)
Social Wellbeing Agency (2023), Older people experiencing vulnerability and multiple disadvantage: A report on the needs of older people (65+) in health, housing, finance, social connections, and access, Wellington, New Zealand, https://www.swa.govt.nz/publications/Older-people-experiencing-vulnerability-and-multiple-disadvantage-in-New-Zealand
Social Wellbeing Agency, About the Social Wellbeing Agency website, https://swa.govt.nz/about/about-the-social-wellbeing-agency (accessed 19 April 2024)
Social Wellbeing Agency, Older People’s Data Explorer website, https://swa.govt.nz/what-we-do/older-people-explorer (accessed April 19 2024)
Statistics New Zealand, Integrated Data Infrastructure website, https://www.stats.govt.nz/integrated-data/integrated-data-infrastructure/ (accessed 19 April 2024)
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The Office for Seniors (2019), Better Later Life - He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034: A strategy for making the future better for New Zealanders as we age, Office for Seniors, Wellington, https://officeforseniors.govt.nz/assets/documents/our-work/better-later-life/Better-Later-Life-Strategy/Better-Later-Life-He-Oranga-Kaumatua-2019-to-2034.pdf
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