The operator of the rest-home said it would like to pay a living wage, but changes had to be made in the industry.
A resident of the Mosgiel home, Hugh Pedofski, 67, told the Otago Daily Times earlier this week he was disappointed with the standard of care at the rest-home, saying staff levels were low, especially at the weekend, and the meals were inedible.
A worker at the rest-home, who asked to remain anonymous, said the complaint by Mr Pedofski reflected a reality which staff were too afraid to voice.
‘‘We provide essential support to the elderly, disabled and vulnerable members of our community. Yet despite the importance of our work, we are frequently underpaid, overworked and undervalued,’’ the worker said.
‘‘For many years, we have been paid at a rate of $26.16 per hour despite the increasing demands and responsibilities of our roles.’’
The worker said they had to work beyond their normal shifts — not only to provide caregiving, but also to clean the facility and handle laundry duties.
‘‘There is often insufficient staffing on weekends, which leaves us to cover multiple roles and responsibilities at once.
‘‘Because of low pay, many of us are forced to take on double shifts just to meet our basic needs ... this ongoing pressure leads to exhaustion, stress and burnout.’’
Concerns about pay and staffing had been raised repeatedly in staff meetings, but nothing had changed.
‘‘There has been little to no growth or development in the facility’s approach, and many of us feel as though we are treated more like machines than human beings — expected to keep working without rest, recognition or proper support.’’
The complaint was not an isolated case, but reflected a broader pattern affecting many caregivers in the community, the worker said.
‘‘We are not asking for special treatment — only fairness, dignity and recognition of the essential role we play. We hope that by bringing attention to these issues, meaningful change can finally take place.’’
Mossbrae Lifecare is owned by New Zealand Aged Care Services Ltd.
Clinical and operations general manager Virginia Sisson said the company would like to pay a living wage when it received funding to do so, and it was an industry-wide issue.
In the meantime, pay reviews were annualised, she said.
She said recruiting staff for aged care was a reality the industry faced — ‘‘it’s the same in most parts of healthcare’’.
Aged Care Association chief executive Tracey Martin was unavailable yesterday, but pointed to a statement she made last month.
In the statement she said that being a rest-home worker required judgement, training, physical resilience and emotional intelligence. It was skilled work and work that deserved to be valued accordingly.
‘‘Our long-held view is simple: work that requires comparable skills, responsibility and effort should be remunerated on an equitable basis, regardless of whether it is traditionally performed by women or men.’’
She said to deliver safe, high-quality care, the industry needed to attract and retain a skilled workforce.
Fair and equitable pay was part of that equation, alongside immigration settings, training pathways and a funding model that reflected the true cost of care.
