Name me ONE country on earth where the government can ensure a
trouble free and
happy retirement
for each and every individual citizen.
Inside our rest homes: Lifting the lid on aged care in NZ
By Martin Johnston, Simon Collins
<figure style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; -webkit-transition: color 0.2s, background-color, border-color, opacity; transition: color 0.2s, background-color, border-color, opacity;"></figure><figcaption class="caption" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 10px 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); outline: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; -webkit-transition: color 0.2s, background-color, border-color, opacity; transition: color 0.2s, background-color, border-color, opacity; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); line-height: 17px;">Photo / Getty Images</figcaption>
Some facilities likened to chicken farms over shortfalls in aged care.
A Herald investigation of rest homes - where a greater proportion of elderly people die than in 12 other developed countries - has found that although most care is at least adequate, some reflects major failings.
The two-month investigation found a confused married woman was "mauled" by a male resident in his bed at one home, and a scabies outbreak wasn't properly managed for nine months at another.
There were concerns about poorly treated pressure sores, residents left in pain because caregivers were too busy to answer call bells, and cuts in physiotherapy and activities.
Aged-care health specialists were concerned about under-funding, low pay, and caregiver turnover of 25 per cent last year, all combining to weaken the quality of care.
"They are like chicken farms, some of these places; they plonk people down in front of TV and over-medicate," said Age Concern field worker Chris Frew.
Rest-home operators say they are simply not funded to provide more than "a minimum level of care".