The Health
                                                and Wellbeing
                                             of Older People
                                               and Kaumätua
                                              The Public Health Issues
                           
                            Public Health Goal 
                            To improve, promote and protect the health of older people/kaumätua. 
                             
                            Relevant Objectives 
                            ?? To maintain and improve mobility amongst older people/kaumätua. 
                            ?? To protect older people/kaumätua from preventable infectious diseases 
                               such as influenza. 
                            ?? To reduce disability from incontinence. 
                            ?? To improve and maintain social support for older people/kaumätua. 
                            ?? To reduce death rates and disability from injuries. 
                            ?? To promote older people/kaumätua mental health and wellbeing. 
                            ?? To increase participation of older people/kaumätua in regular physical 
                               activity. 
                            ?? To reduce the incidence of food-related health disorders by improved 
                               nutrition of older people/kaumätua. 
                   Published with the permission of the 
                     Director-General of Health 
                            
                   Published in December 1997 by the 
                       Ministry of Health 
                  PO Box 5013, Wellington, New Zealand 
                    ISBN 0-478-20872-3 (Booklet) 
                    ISBN 0-478-20873-1 (Internet) 
                         HP3179 
             This document is available on the Ministry of Health’s Web site: 
                      http://www.moh.govt.nz 
                                  
                        Foreword 
                        This paper is one of a series on public health issues developed by the Public Health Group of 
                        the Ministry of Health.  This document should be read in conjunction with Strengthening 
                        Public Health Action: The strategic direction to improve, promote and protect public 
                        health, which provides an overall framework for improving the health of New Zealanders. 
                         
                        As a result of the latest amendments to the Health and Disability Services Act 1993, the 
                        Ministry of Health is required to improve, promote and protect the public health.  In 
                        accordance with this Act as amended, the Public Health Group is required to regularly 
                        consult the public, those involved in the provision of public health services and other 
                        appropriate persons. 
                         
                        I wish to thank staff of the Public Health Group for their efforts in developing this paper.  
                        The extensive consultation undertaken by staff has ensured that the issues related to 
                        important public health matters have been well canvassed and systematically analysed.  
                        Such analysis provides a good basis for quality policy advice to the Minister. 
                         
                        The Public Health Group invites comment on strategies to address the issues contained in 
                        this paper.  Please send your comments to the address provided at the back of this paper. 
                         
                                                      
                        Karen O Poutasi (Dr) 
                        Director-General of Health 
                         
                         
                                         The Health and Wellbeing of Older People and Kaumätua       iii 
                Acknowledgements 
                I would like to thank the many individuals and organisations who commented on the draft of 
                the issues-based paper  The Health and Wellbeing of Older People and Kaumätua: 
                Public health issues.  These comments helped formulate this final paper The Health and 
                Wellbeing of Older People and Kaumätua: The public health issues which was jointly 
                prepared by the Prevention Policy and He Käkano Oranga sections of the Public Health 
                Group of the Ministry of Health.  In particular, I would like to acknowledge the contribution 
                made by Te Pümanawa Hauora with their research project contracted by the Ministry of 
                Health and Te Puni Kökiri.  Comments on the draft document were received from: 
                ??    regional health authorities 
                ??    Crown health enterprises 
                ??    academic departments 
                ??    local government 
                ??    independent service providers 
                ??    ministries and government departments 
                ??    individuals and groups with an interest in public health 
                ??    non-government organisations and other statutory bodies 
                ??    Mäori and iwi groups 
                ??    Pacific people’s groups. 
                 
                A full list of submissions received is provided at the end of the document. 
                 
                The issues-based papers form part of the framework for public health presented in the 
                document  A Strategic  Direction to Improve and Protect the Public Health and  He 
                Matariki: A strategic plan for Mäori public health which were published by the Public 
                Health Commission in 1994 and 1995 respectively.  The updated proposals from A Strategic 
                Direction can be found in the revised document, Strengthening Public Health Action: 
                The strategic direction to improve, promote and protect public health.  The issues-
                based papers systematically review the issues associated with public health policies, 
                programmes and research and information relevant to the appropriate objectives listed in the 
                strategic direction.  The first review of public health activities and the setting up of outcome 
                monitoring systems is now complete. 
                 
                I hope that the publication of this paper provided to the Minister of Health illustrates the 
                importance the Public Health Group places on the consultation process. 
                                              
                Dr Gillian Durham 
                Director of Public Health and 
                General Manager, Public Health Group 
                iv       The Health and Wellbeing of Older People and Kaumätua