elderly care

Some Otago home-based care agencies do not investigate client complaints using a third party, suggesting a top-level recommendation for a standardised complaints system was warranted, Age Concern Otago social worker Marie Bennett says.

More than 30 Wakatipu residents raised issues of elderly care, rest-home facilities and transfers to Invercargill Hospital and voiced concern over which sector would manage the proposed integrated family health centre, with the National Health Board (NHB) on Friday.

As the last DHB in New Zealand to move from paper to computer to assess elderly people's care needs, Southern District Health Board's introduction of a computer-based system has been successful so far, mental health and community services Otago general manager Elaine Chisnall says.

"Care managers" would help the elderly to remain in the community under proposals to be put to a Southern District Health Board committee today.

Ninety-three elderly care residents displaced by Christchurch's February 22 earthquake will probably stay in the South long term, Southern District Health Board funding and finance general manager Robert Mackway-Jones says.

The number of people in New Zealand aged 65 and older will surpass one million by the late 2020s, but what will become of the frail elderly? Kim Dungey reports.

Is recent public concern about the care provided in rest-homes justified, and is the Government doing enough to ensure our elderly are well looked after? Kim Dungey reports.

Sums involved in moving into aged-care can be substantial and the accounting complex, Kim Dungey reports.

A 102-year-old woman is among 16 elderly people transferred to Dunedin from a Christchurch retirement home last night after it partially collapsed during the earthquake on Tuesday.

A $4 million blow-out in spending on rest-home subsidies will be revealed today as the Southern District Health Board looks for ways to keep more elderly people in their homes.