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This infographic poster provides an overview of key statistics and information relating to achieving financial security and economic participation.
PDF, 131 KB • Published November 2019 -
This infographic poster provides an overview of key statistics and information on our ageing population.
PDF, 120 KB • Published December 2020 -
This infographic poster provides an overview of key statistics and information around creating diverse housing choices and options .
PDF, 148 KB • Published December 2020 -
This infographic poster provides an overview of key statistics and information around enhancing opportunities for participation and social connection.
PDF, 101 KB • Published December 2019 -
This infographic poster provides an overview of key statistics and information on making environments accessible
PDF, 111 KB • Published December 2020 -
A Pilot Project on Using Restorative Approaches for Addressing Harms Experienced by Older Persons
PDF, 2016 KB • Published September 2020 -
This report examines the role of cognitive assessment in medical fitness to drive evaluations for older adults in New Zealand.
It was prepared by Professor Ngaire Kerse and Dr Ruth Teh from the University of Auckland and commissioned by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and the Office for Seniors. The report was developed to support general practitioners, nurse practitioners and other health professionals involved in assessing fitness to drive.
As New Zealand's population ages, the number of older drivers and the prevalence of cognitive impairment are increasing. The report reviews current evidence on whether office-based cognitive tests can accurately identify drivers who may be unsafe on the road. It includes a review of recent international research, analysis of New Zealand road crash data, and interviews with experts in geriatrics, rehabilitation, driving assessment, psychology and public health.
The report finds that for older adults who are physically and mentally healthy, current evidence does not support the routine use of cognitive screening as part of fitness to drive assessments. Common global cognitive tests, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (mini-ACE), provide useful information about general cognitive function but do not accurately predict on-road driving performance.
The review identifies some measures, such as the Trail Making Test, reaction time assessments and maze-based tests, as having a stronger association with driving performance. However, it concludes that no single cognitive assessment can reliably predict driving safety. Driving ability is influenced by a combination of factors, including vision, physical function, health conditions, driving history and real-world driving performance.
The report recommends that health professionals use clinical judgement and a holistic assessment approach when considering fitness to drive. Where there is uncertainty, on-road assessments or specialised occupational therapy driving assessments may provide additional evidence to support decision-making. The findings will be of particular interest to health professionals, policymakers, researchers, older people and organisations involved in road safety, healthy ageing and transport planning.
© Crown copyright. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0), unless otherwise indicated. You are free to copy, distribute and adapt the work, provided you attribute it to the Office for Seniors and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and abide by the licence terms.
PDF, 738 KB • Published -
In this report commissioned by the Office for Seniors, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) uses Centrix mortgage lending data to examine how mortgage pressures are affecting older homeowners. It provides analysis of the experiences of different cohorts within the older population and contributes to our understanding of the evolving social and economic environment faced by older people.
PDF, 921 KB • Published April 2024 -
The Employment of Older NZ Women paper prepared for the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women
PDF, 2763 KB • Published August 2014 -
Developing age-friendly cities and communities (AFCC) is a proven way to create more age-friendly environments – for everyone. This guide provides direction to national authorities and stakeholders responsible for or involved in forming or sustaining national programmes for AFCC.