Planned approach urged for elderly care

A more planned approach to elderly care services is needed, says the industry association for home support services.

"Currently there is an ad hoc approach to home support, and the funding can vary markedly across the country," said New Zealand Home Health Association (NZHHA) chief executive Jane Cumming.

A University of Auckland study had found that the number of rest home and private hospital residents in Auckland with high dependency issues had risen, requiring a different approach to their care, she said.

The Government must take a close look at the needs of older people both in the community and in residential facilities, she said.

"The Government is in favour of increasingly caring for people in the community - which has a number of positives.

"But to ensure that a consistently good level of care is provided, both the home support and residential care sectors need adequate funding and a well-trained workforce."

Demand for home support services and residential care would increase as people lived longer and needed more care, she said.

Auditor-General Lyn Provost this week blasted the Ministry of Health for the way it monitored the rest homes, where about 34,000 old people live, saying it had known since 2004 that auditing by designated audit agencies (DAAs) was inconsistent and sometimes of a poor quality.

"Notwithstanding its recent efforts, and evidence that DAAs are improving some aspects of their work, the ministry did not respond to these problems quickly enough or with enough effect," she said in a report.

It followed a number of adverse incidents, including the closure of Palmerston North rest home Rose A Lea after an inspection found a 103-year-old woman tied to her bed with a sheet.

Yesterday, Age Concern chief executive Ann Martin said everyone had a role in improving the quality of care in rest homes.

"Everyone has a role in improving quality, including the general public," she said.

"If you know people who live in rest homes, visit them often. If you see something wrong, tell someone.

"Rest home residents need someone to look out for them, but we know that some older people have no one."

Health Minister Tony Ryall on Wednesday said the report identified long-standing shortcomings which the Government had started addressing when it took office.