A Dunedin 91-year-old is appalled home care visits have been cut due to rising fuel costs and says clients and workers have been left in the lurch.
She was one of several people to contact a local MP with concerns the cuts will make life difficult for elderly people reliant on the service.
A support worker in Invercargill says the changes mean staff, already struggling with rising fuel costs, are dealing with reductions in hours.
Elaine Shallish, of Abbotsford, said two weeks ago the Royal District Nursing Service told her the weekly, 40-minute house cleaning visit she received would become fortnightly.
‘‘It means I have to struggle to do my own housework.
‘‘It’s quite hard, it takes me quite a while and the worst part is the vacuum cleaning because you’re dragging it along.’’
After she raised concerns with her MP Ingrid Leary, the visit was increased to one hour per fortnight, and Mrs Shallish was told the changes were due to increases in fuel prices.
‘‘I don’t like accepting help, but I have to.
‘‘I’m very grateful for these girls that come and do my housework, but the organisation needs a hurry along.’’
She planned to try to do some housework between visits, and was concerned for the wellbeing of clients who attempted the work.
Communication from the service had been poor and it was unclear when, or if, weekly visits would resume.
Royal District Nursing Service did not respond to Otago Daily Times questions by deadline yesterday.
Ms Leary, also Labour’s seniors spokeswoman, said Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand told her the changes were not cuts.
‘‘However, whichever way you look at it, this really does amount to a cut, and is going to impact on seniors who are relying on those services to be able to continue to live safely and comfortably at home.’’
The changes came as a ‘‘double-whammy’’ for workers, as many did not qualify for the government’s $50 tax credit for working families, intended to relieve pressure over fuel price rises.
‘‘They should have been entitled to the subsidy and, instead, they’re experiencing cuts to their working hours, which is going to further disadvantage them,’’ Ms Leary said.
‘‘If the government hadn’t canned their pay equity claim, it would have been in a better position to deal with the crisis.’’
The government should urgently look into the matter as it was ‘‘grossly unfair’’ some of the lowest paid workers were wearing the costs of the fuel crisis.
Ms Leary said a ‘‘handful’’ of seniors had contacted her concerned about the changes.
Invercargill home-based care worker Pam King, also an E tū delegate, said her employer confirmed her visitation hours with older people would be reduced by two hours in a week, as services try to keep costs down amid rising fuel prices.
She was aware other workers’ hours were cut further.
‘‘We’re furious because we’ve all got guaranteed hours. How are they going to make those hours up?’’
The situation was becoming a potential health and safety issue, particularly for older clientele doing housework, with flow-on effects to hospitals.
She foresaw the changes happening to other workers, as the fuel crisis continued
to bite.
HNZ funding, community and mental health acting director Martin Hefford said it bought home and community support services, and workers were employed by the contracted provider.
‘‘The use of vehicles, and other employment agreement terms are a matter for the third-party provider that employs the workers.’’
HNZ’s funding arrangements recognised cost pressures — including fuel costs — faced by providers and their workforces.
It was considering funding settings for 2026-27, including the impact of rising fuel prices on third-party providers.
