This section describes characteristics of people who lived in dwellings categorised as ‘residential care for older people’. Accommodation in this category includes dwellings such as rest homes, continuing care hospitals, and dementia units. It excludes independent self-care flats or houses within a retirement village or complex. These were classified as private dwellings in the same way as other private dwellings, ie according to whether they were separate or joined to other dwellings, and by the number of storeys.

Auckland region has the most people in residential care for older people

In 2013, 31,899 people lived in residential care for older people in New Zealand, across 822 facilities. The number of people who lived in this type of dwelling increased by 14.1 percent since 2006, when there were 27,966 people.

The Auckland region had the largest number of people in residential care for older people (8,535 people), followed by the Canterbury region (5,139) and the Wellington region (3,381).

Figure 1
Density map of people living in residential care for older people in Auckland local board areas
2013 Census

Within the Auckland local boards, Orākei and Albert-Eden had the most people living in this type of dwelling (969 people and 945 people, respectively). In terms of density, the Orākei local board area had the highest (33 people per square kilometre).

See the appendix for the data supporting this map.

More than two-thirds of people in residential care for older people are female

In 2013, more than two-thirds of those who lived in residential care for older people were female (68.1 percent).

Almost three-quarters of people who lived in residential care for older people were aged 80 years and over (80+) – 72.2 percent in 2013, up from 70.2 percent in 2006. However, a small proportion were aged under 60 years (3.7 percent). This was a decrease from 2006, where 5.5 percent were aged under 60.

There were 231 people aged under 40 years living in residential care for older people – 0.7 percent of the total number of people living in this type of dwelling. This might indicate a lack of access to other suitable accommodation for younger people who have disabilities or need ongoing care. This number had dropped by more than half since 2006 (when it was 543).

Figure 2

A closer look at the older people who lived in this type of dwelling shows that in 2013 compared with 2006 there were:

• lower proportions of people in the 75–79-year and 80–84-year age groups
• higher proportions of people in the three age groups above 84 years.

Table 2 shows the counts of people in the oldest age groups living in residential care for older people.

Table 2

The percentage of the total population who lived in residential care for older people increased with each age group, to reach just over 50 percent of people aged 95 years and older. From 2006 to 2013, the percentages generally fell for each age group. However, the percentage of the total population who lived in residential care for older people increased. This increase is because the older age groups grew much more quickly than the total population did.

Figure 3

1 in 7 people aged 80+ live in residential care for older people

Similar proportions of the population aged 80+ lived in residential care for older people in 2013 and 2006 (14.9 percent in 2013, 15.2 percent in 2006).

At a regional level there were some marked differences. The regions with the highest percentage of the population aged 80+ living in residential care for older people were:

• Nelson – at 20.5 percent
• Taranaki – at 17.5 percent.

Conversely, the West Coast region had the lowest proportion of people aged 80+ who lived in care (11.6 percent in 2013).

Most people in residential care for older people are European

Most people who lived in residential care for older people were of European ethnicity (92.5 percent in 2013). Amongst people aged 65+, Europeans were over-represented –making up 93.4 percent of the 65+ population in this dwelling type, but only 87.8 percent of New Zealand’s population aged 65+.

Conversely, the Māori, Pacific peoples, and Asian ethnic groups were under-represented in this dwelling type in the 65+ age group. The differences between ethnic groups may reflect different ways of caring for older people.

Note that people were able to identify with more than one ethnic group.

Table 3

The Auckland region had a higher proportion of Pacific and Asian people living in residential care for older people, compared with the national figures. Pacific peoples made up 4.5 percent of total people living in residential care in Auckland, compared with 1.7 percent in residential care nationally. The Asian ethnic group made up 5.9 percent of people living in residential care in Auckland, compared with 2.3 percent in residential care nationally.

Less than five years most common time living in residential care for older people

More than three-quarters of people in residential care for older people had lived in their current residence for less than five years (79.0 percent in 2013). Almost half had lived there for one to four years.

Figure 4

More than half of those in residential care for older people are widowed

In 2013 more than half the people (60.4 percent) who lived in residential care for older people were widowed, or surviving partners of a civil union. This reflects the older age structure of the people living there, and perhaps the circumstances that led to them moving into a care facility. In the general population, 24.9 percent of all people aged 65+ were widowed or surviving civil union partners. This compares with 63.8 percent of those aged 65+ who lived in this type of dwelling.

Almost 1 in 5 people who lived in residential care for older people were married (18.8 percent). Note that 21.5 percent of people who lived in these facilities did not state their relationship status. These figures were similar in 2006.

4 in 5 people in residential care for older people received superannuation or veterans pension

In 2013, most of the people who lived in residential care for older people received income from New Zealand Superannuation or a veterans pension (81.5 percent). The next-most common source of income was interest, dividends, rent, and other investments (19.0 percent in 2013). These figures were similar in 2006.

Close to half of the people who lived in these dwellings in 2013 and stated their income said they received between $10,001 and $20,000 over the year. However, 39.3 percent of people who lived in this type of dwelling did not state their income. Note that people can have more than one source of income.

See 2013 Census QuickStats about people aged 65 and over for more information from the 2013 Census about people in older age groups.