New Zealand's population is ageing. By 2040, approximately one in four New Zealanders will be aged 65 or over. This demographic shift is creating growing demand for services supporting older people — and growing opportunity for funders to invest in programmes that make a meaningful difference to the lives of older New Zealanders.
Ministry of Social Development (MSD). The primary government funder for older people's wellbeing programmes — including social connection initiatives, falls prevention, and community support services. MSD's SuperGold Card programme provides benefits; community organisations supporting older people can apply through MSD's contestable funding.
Ministry of Health. Funds aged residential care, home and community support, and health programmes for older people. Community health organisations serving older people may access Ministry of Health contracts.
DHBs and Te Whatu Ora. Regional health entities fund community health programmes for older people — day programmes, community nursing, respite care support.
ACC. Funds injury prevention and recovery for older people, including home modification for falls prevention.
Gaming and community trusts. Significant funders of social connection, transport, and community wellbeing programmes for older people — activities not covered by government health and care contracts.
Local government. Councils fund seniors' services, information and referral, transport assistance, and community events for older residents.
Social connection and isolation. Loneliness and social isolation are significant health risks for older people. Community organisations running social clubs, visiting programmes, befriending services, and telephone support access gaming trust and community trust funding.
Falls prevention. Falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalisation for older people. ACC and health funders invest in falls prevention — balance classes, home safety assessments, and community exercise programmes.
Dementia care support. Dementia NZ and dementia-specific community services support people living with dementia and their carers. Funding for dementia day programmes, carer respite, and community awareness comes from a mix of sources.
Housing adaptation. Funding for home modifications — grab rails, ramps, bathroom modifications — that enable older people to remain safely in their own homes. ACC, MSD, and community trusts all contribute.
Transport. Access to transport is critical for older people without private vehicles. Community transport schemes, volunteer driver services, and subsidised transport access are common grant purposes.
Technology access. Programmes helping older people access digital services — online banking, telehealth, video calls with family — are growing in importance. Digital literacy training for older people receives community trust funding.
Grief and bereavement support. Age-related loss — of partners, friends, and contemporaries — makes grief support particularly relevant for older people. Community organisations providing grief support access gaming trust and community trust funding.
Dignity and agency. Effective programmes for older people centre their agency and dignity — recognising them as experts on their own lives, not passive recipients of services. Assessment criteria should reflect this.
Intersection with health system. Many organisations serving older people work at the interface with the health system. Understanding how services relate to primary care, hospital avoidance, and care coordination is important for funders assessing these applications.
Diversity within "older people." The category "older people" spans from active 65-year-olds with high capability to frail 95-year-olds with complex needs. Programmes should be specific about which older population they serve — one-size-fits-all approaches often miss those most in need.
Carer support. Many older people are cared for informally by family members. Programmes that support carers — with respite, information, and wellbeing support — are as valuable as those directly serving older people.
Dementia-specific considerations. Dementia care requires specialist knowledge. Assessment of applications for dementia services should include awareness of best practice in dementia care — person-centred approaches, environment design, carer support.
Cultural communities. Older people from Māori, Pacific, Asian, and migrant communities may have language, cultural, and community-specific needs that generic older people's services don't meet. Funders should actively support culturally specific provision.
Tahua supports community trust and gaming trust grantmakers investing in older people's wellbeing — with configurable programme management, outcome tracking, and reporting suited to the range of organisations serving older New Zealanders.