The operators of the rest-home though say the hot-water issue was linked to a change to a more eco-friendly boiler.
Hugh Pedofski has been at the rest-home in Mosgiel since October last year and said there were constant staff shortages, often at weekends, and that led to a lack of showers.
"The reality is staff are put on the roster but the staff have told the management they are not available. Then management blame staff for not turning up," he said.
"Management complain about the staff to their faces but are full of praise for them when a prospective client is being shown around."
Staff shortages put more pressure on the carers who were at work. Sometimes he had to wait until 10.30am to get his breakfast.
There were often delays in answering call bells when carer assistance was needed.
Mr Pedofski, who is a wheelchair user, said he had had to wait at least 30 minutes on several occasions and often spent time in the corridors looking for help.
Added to issues was in his wing of the rest-home the rooms had been without hot water for more than two weeks.
This did not affect showers but it was annoying and causing many residents problems.
He said meals were cooked at the Oxford Court rest-home in South Dunedin, which is owned by New Zealand Aged Care Services (NZACS).
Oxford Court was the centre of controversy last year after staff and residents complained about management styles.
Mr Pedofski said meals were often cold when they arrived. Heating them in the microwave, which was advised by staff, only made them soggy.
"The midday meals are our main meals and usually all right. The evening meals are usually awful and often go uneaten."
Some of the evening meals were made up of just one item and were cold.
"When I moved here it was on the understanding I get three showers a week. This was quickly reduced to two. Often reduced to one due to staff shortages caused by management," he said.
Mr Pedofski said a carer was always available to get him out of bed.
He had lived in a rest-home in Christchurch and this was way below what he expected.
He was from Dunedin but moved from the city in 2019 to Hastings for a couple of years before moving to Christchurch to be nearer family but decided with his wife to move to Mosgiel last year. His family had bought a house in Mosgiel.
NZACS clinical and operations manager Virginia Sisson said the lack of hot water was due to the change-over from a diesel heating source to an eco-friendlier supply.
There was a period where hot water was not coming to the basins in certain rooms but staff provided hot water as required.
Residents still had access to hot showers and hot water elsewhere.
It was fair to say that there have been some staff issues, she said.
"This said, these are being addressed with HR, including performance improvement plans and employment relations and therefore sensitive. We have been working closely with the management to ensure there is a full roster."
Meals were temperature checked and met food safety requirements. If residents liked their meal heated more then staff were able to complete this at either kitchen.
The menu did provide alternatives if a resident did not like the main meal being served.
