The retirement years

[kiwi2007]

'Pensioner poverty' seems to quite widespread ....and getting worse

Sitting in the dark wrapped in a blanket with only one meal a day can't be fun.

A friend advertised a room in a nice part of Auckland recently, as a flatshare, and was surprised to have four ladies all in their sixties all quite desperate to get it. The cost of even that small room and shared bathroom is more than half the monthly superannuation, and that's before coughing up for the shared utilities. Worrying times for some.

[Untamed]

I probably could have worded my post better. Rather than "don't judge" I should have perhaps said "don't automatically assume" that people in the category we are talking about, are going to live a miserable, unhappy retirement. I guess, I took personal exception to that implication. Some of us simply cannot change our situation now, so we have two choices. Either we go into our retirement with a positive mind-set, and do our best to live a happy and content, simple life OR we go into it with a negative attitude and focus on the negatives rather than the positives. I choose to do the former.

Having said that, I am not so naive that I don't accept that there will be some retirees who will absolutely be struggling. Many of those people would be likely to qualify for government subsidised rest home care however - so that may be an alternative to continuing to rent. Yes, there will always be a few who say "over my dead body!" but you know what? After five years of working in a rest home, I can think of only two residents who regretted moving in. The rest will now tell you, that it was the best thing they ever did, and they don't regret it.

I don't know what the answers are Beagle. Neither government knows what the hell they are doing with regards to Aged Care. But they need to get their act together before they find themselves in really deep doo doo. Right now the sector is experiencing staffing issues with RNs, and nursing shortages have been the media focus. But caregivers are struggling, and some of us have reluctantly decided that we cannot do it any longer. I did my last shift last Sunday. My heart is broken because it was my passion and I loved what I did, but I just couldn't do it anymore. I know of two caregivers who have resigned from another NFP rest home locally, and have gone to work at the new Bunnings store.

As I have said before, if one of the major parties comes out with a workable and suitable policy for Aged Care, before the election, they will get my vote, because we are in crisis right now. I am not holding my breath however, as I seriously doubt any party will have this anywhere near the top of their "To Do" list.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/sunday  Not so Golden years
Not judging anyone here or anywhere else jak, even those who choose to live in a caravan are perfectly entitled to their life choices but I think most of us on here aspire to something more comfortable in our retirement years, that's why many of us are on here.  People interviewed, (see for yourself), don't look very content to me, that's all I was saying.

[Basil]

I hope the residents and other staff gave you a nice farewell JAK.  I'm sure you've helped huge numbers of elderly folks enjoy their time in your care and you can feel content your hard work has blessed many people over the years. I know we haven't often seen eye to eye over the years but I genuinely wish you well in your retirement.  Maybe a part time job at Bunnings for you ?

You are quite right, apparently 40% of superannuants live on just their superannuation and I am sure many are quite content with the simple life.   I know one in Turangi who supplements her Super by selling jams and pickles at the local market and she is well connected and liked in the community.

Unfortunately, I know others in Auckland who are still paying rent and are really struggling with making ends meet.   I agree, the underfunding of care for elderly folks has reached an absolute crisis point.

[Untamed]

Thanks Beagle. I appreciate those kind words. Not retirement though! I have two years to go before I'm 65 so this was far from an easy decision to make, and far from ideal at my age. But sometimes one has to put their sanity first.

I am house sitting for six months as of yesterday, so that is a blessing as my costs will be minimal over that time. Having a break to unwind and learn how to relax and read a book again. Then I'll be on the hunt for part time work.
 
I would really encourage everyone here to speak to your local political candidates, regardless of party, and do what you can to make them understand the crisis s aged care is in. Maybe don't come at it from an investor perspective but as Kiwi citizens who care about our elderly, who will also be elderly in the not too distant future (for some of us). We need to demand action now. Maybe now that I have some free time for a bit, I will bombard them all with emails 

I hope the residents and other staff gave you a nice farewell JAK.  I'm sure you've helped huge numbers of elderly folks enjoy their time in your care and you can feel content your hard work has blessed many people over the years. I know we haven't often seen eye to eye over the years but I genuinely wish you well in your retirement.  Maybe a part time job at Bunnings for you ?

You are quite right, apparently 40% of superannuants live on just their superannuation and I am sure many are quite content with the simple life.   I know one in Turangi who supplements her Super by selling jams and pickles at the local market and she is well connected and liked in the community.

Unfortunately, I know others in Auckland who are still paying rent and are really struggling with making ends meet.   I agree, the underfunding of care for elderly folks has reached an absolute crisis point.

[KW]

I would really encourage everyone here to speak to your local political candidates, regardless of party, and do what you can to make them understand the crisis s aged care is in. Maybe don't come at it from an investor perspective but as Kiwi citizens who care about our elderly, who will also be elderly in the not too distant future (for some of us). We need to demand action now. Maybe now that I have some free time for a bit, I will bombard them all with emails 

Its in crisis everywhere.  In Australia they have brought in the army to help out.  If only NZ still had an armed forces .....
https://www.health.gov.au/news/announcements/the-australian-defence-force-to-work-with-the-aged-care-sector-to-provide-immediate-support-for-staff

[BlackPeter]

Its in crisis everywhere.  In Australia they have brought in the army to help out.  If only NZ still had an armed forces .....
https://www.health.gov.au/news/announcements/the-australian-defence-force-to-work-with-the-aged-care-sector-to-provide-immediate-support-for-staff

NZ and Australia are not "Everywhere". Its just a small blob at the bottom of the globe.

But yes, it sounds like the Ossies decided to burn out their forces now (in the age care sector). We choose to do that already a bit earlier in MIQ. Same thing. While disaster response might still be a valid task for the army, if you use people highly trained in fighting and using complex weapon systems too long for administering and containing travellers or supporting the age care sector ( I guess somebody needs to carry the soup and remove the rubbish) ... even the most well meaning soldier will go and find a job closer to their job description and inclination.

Both Australia as well as NZ have fast aging populations with not enough young people following the aging "blob", and despite this they still served over the recent years the desires of a quite xenophobe minority instead of using their brains (not to mention their hearts) and let people in who could help us to maintain our society in the future. Now we have in most professions (and particularly the healthcare sector) a dwindling workforce, and whoever is left is looking to retire soon.

We managed to keep both new qualified medical staff as well as support staff out of the country (and even kicked in recent years medical staff due to an absolutely inept and inhumane immigration system out of NZ), and populist Labour just indulged in being mean and dumb. remember our anti immigration minister Chris Faafoi - "We all have to make sacrifices"?

To take just one example - India alone represents 20% of the world population and they have plenty of well trained and (even) English speaking nurses and medical staff. We make it very difficult for professionals from India to come here, live here and work here. I once tried to hire for my company a professional (software engineer) from India - and this was before the current populist and xenophobe government came into power. The hoops both employers as well as applicants had to jump through have been quite ridiculous, and yes - at the end the candidate choose to go into a more welcoming country.

Many other populous countries have plenty of young, often well trained (or at least highly motivated and trainable) people who would be happy to work in our age and health care sector (China, Ukraine, Indonesia, Philippines, ...), and yes - they go into the countries which welcome them. Clearly not NZ or Australia.

We are now going to pay the bill for allowing xenophobes and populists to run the show.

[KW]

Both Australia as well as NZ have fast aging populations with not enough young people following the aging "blob", 

That is actually a bit of a furphy.  In NZ, the Gen X and Millennial population cohorts are bigger than the Baby Boomer generation.  We have no shortage of young people.  Just a shortage of young people who want to work for low wages wiping old people's arses.

https://www.populationpyramid.net/new-zealand/2019/

[Untamed]

Your comment is offensive and disrespectful, and attitudes like yours are the reason caregivers are undervalued and under appreciated. Sheer ignorance 

Just a shortage of young people who want to work for low wages wiping old people's arses.

[KW]

Your comment is offensive and disrespectful, and attitudes like yours are the reason caregivers are undervalued and under appreciated. Sheer ignorance 

Not sure what is offensive about my comment.  I certainly don't want to wipe anyone's arse for a living, even if you paid me well to do it.  I imagine most people wouldnt want to do it for a minimum wage job.  Lots of jobs I wouldnt want to do - nothing offensive about it, just preferences.  

[Untamed]

What was offensive is the fact that you equate aged care caregiving with wiping people's bottoms. Are you that  ignorant that you really don't know what the job involves?

I am very glad you don't want to be a caregiver. You would absolutely suck at it.

Not sure what is offensive about my comment.  I certainly don't want to wipe anyone's arse for a living, even if you paid me well to do it.  I imagine most people wouldnt want to do it for a minimum wage job.  Lots of jobs I wouldnt want to do - nothing offensive about it, just preferences. 

[KW]

What was offensive is the fact that you equate aged care caregiving with wiping people's bottoms. Are you that  ignorant that you really don't know what the job involves?

I am very glad you don't want to be a caregiver. You would absolutely suck at it.

Are you trying to tell me that caring for old people does not involve ANY personal hygiene tasks?  And the fact that I dont want to do any of it offends you?  Well, sorry mate, but as I said, we all have standards as to what we are prepared to do to earn a living.  Just because you are happy to do it, doesnt mean there is anything wrong with those of us who dont want to do it.  Each to their own right?

[Untamed]

No, that's not what I'm telling you. I'm calling you out because you singled out the bottom wiping task in your original post, and completely ignored all of the other things we do to care for and support our residents. Caregiving is one of the most rewarding jobs there is, and personal hygiene tasks are only a small aspect of the role. For your information, we often have young people working as caregivers. Young people who are quite clearly a lot smarter than you, and a damned sight more caring and compassionate.

I know which one I'd rather have caring for my Mum.

Are you trying to tell me that caring for old people does not involve ANY personal hygiene tasks?  And the fact that I dont want to do any of it offends you?  Well, sorry mate, but as I said, we all have standards as to what we are prepared to do to earn a living.  Just because you are happy to do it, doesnt mean there is anything wrong with those of us who dont want to do it.  Each to their own right?

[BlackPeter]

That is actually a bit of a furphy.  In NZ, the Gen X and Millennial population cohorts are bigger than the Baby Boomer generation.  We have no shortage of young people.  Just a shortage of young people who want to work for low wages wiping old people's arses.

https://www.populationpyramid.net/new-zealand/2019/

Strong words, but your information is wrong - or at best misleading (is this what furphy means ?).

Even if your data would be correct, it would be irrelevant. The various randomly defined generations have different lengths and they neither represent the majority of people in care nor the majority of people in the workforce, So, what is the point?

Relevant is the number of working age people able to fund and care for the number of people who need care. You might find that you forgot the silent generation, which still occupies many more care beds than the baby boomers do.

The fertility rate for women in Australia is 1.7 (children per female), in NZ it is 1.85.

To keep the current level of population, you would need however 2.1 - or allow sufficient immigration of people to close the gap. This was what a xenophobe and populist Labour government in NZ stopped (and the Ossies are anyway weird). I know, NZ Labour now opened the tap again, but its too little, too late.

Do you realize as well that more than 50% of our health care staff plan to retire in the next ten years? These would be some Gen X and some Baby Boomers.

Of them - 2/3rds of our GP's plan to retire over the coming 10 years (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/487075/nearly-two-thirds-of-gps-plan-to-retire-in-next-10-years
) - and for them are your comments absolutely irrelevant.

Instead of allowing capable young people into the country to support our society the resident xenophobes and populists made sure that we are now running out of not just healthcare staff.

[KW]

Of them - 2/3rds of our GP's plan to retire over the coming 10 years (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/487075/nearly-two-thirds-of-gps-plan-to-retire-in-next-10-years
) - and for them are your comments absolutely irrelevant.

Instead of allowing capable young people into the country to support our society the resident xenophobes and populists made sure that we are now running out of not just healthcare staff.

For that, we can blame the medical schools.  For 10 years now they have been selecting medical students based on race, and not on qualifications, meaning thousands of young people who wanted to be doctors, and who were the brightest in our country, were denied the opportunity to practice medicine.  

[BlackPeter]

For that, we can blame the medical schools.  For 10 years now they have been selecting medical students based on race, and not on qualifications, meaning thousands of young people who wanted to be doctors, and who were the brightest in our country, were denied the opportunity to practice medicine. 

I am sometimes surprised that somebody as bright as you is happy to parrot alt right slurs. Don't you think them through before you post them?

Lets have a look: Yes, people with brown skin (and the right heritage) find it easier in NZ to get a medical study place than Pakeha's (or anybody else without Maori blood). This is correct and clearly - it is racist (wrong or right).

However:

- this is not the fault of the medical schools you are blaming, the ratios are set by politicians.

- no matter whether its right or wrong, it does not reduce the number of medical students in NZ, it just adjust the racial profile of student doctors to the racial profile in the population (and there might be well some good arguments for doing that).

- it clearly does not reduce the overall number of medical practitioners in NZ. If anything, it will increase the number, given that a doctor with Maori heritage is in my view less likely to go overseas than a Pakeha doctor.

But back to the thread: Due to the populist non sense you seem to support, all of us will find it more difficult during our retirement years to find a qualified doctor (or a nurse) when we need them.

Cheers for that.