Govt ‘forcing’ aged care providers to focus on high-income residents, says Ryman boss

Ryman executive chair Dean Hamilton says governments haven't increased funding to the aged care sector at a pace that matches the sector's burden of rising inflation. (Image: NZME)

Gregor Thompson

Thu, 05 Sep 2024

Dean Hamilton, executive chair of Ryman Healthcare, says current policy settings are “forcing” retirement companies to provide aged care services that are inaccessible to lower-income New Zealanders. Retirement village companies like Ryman have two principal provisions: independent living apartments, where residents do not require care, and aged care rooms, where they do. The latter part of that equation has historically been possible due to the Residential Care Subsidy, which gives providers enough financial incentive to...

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