Call for major aged care shakeup 

There has been a call for a total overhaul of the aged care sector, and to address pay rates, training and staffing levels for carers.

It comes as allegations surfaced about the care given to several elderly residents at a rest home in Taranaki.

Gramae Woswo's father used to be a resident at Taranaki's Margaret Elizabeth Rest Home, but the family removed him after Graeme claims a nurse had no idea who his dad was.

"When you have someone that's in charge, that has no knowledge of that person, I think it's critically dangerous," he says.

Peggy and Ike were Margaret Elizabeth Residents too, but alarm bells soon rang for their loved ones.

"They were dragging our mother around in a belt with loops on the side." says son-in-law Doug Johnson.

The family relocated their parents, who have since died, and complained to the Health and Disability commissioner.

His report found that there had been inadequate documentation over how much of the drug codeine phosphate Peggy was given and there was a need for a more comprehensive examination of a fall their mother had, which the family claims it wasn't told about.

The former manager of the rest home, Kay Saunders, says she regrets there were some minor oversights in the care. She has since apologised, but points out the report said the overall care was adequate.

The Service and Food Workers Union now claim staff are leaving.

"In the last two weeks it's probably about five to seven staff that have either left or handed their notice in," says Sam Jones, a union spokesman.

Experts say poor pay doesn't help, and the entire aged care sector needs a drastic overhaul to fix many problems.

"Minimum standards of staffing, minimum requirements around training to guarantee the safety," says Cee Payne of the NZ Nurses Union.

The government claims it is listening.

"We've got work going to cabinet shortly that will look at a new plan for tying wages to increased qualifications in the aged care sector," says Health Minister David Cunliffe.

The new manager of Margaret Elizabeth says accusations of unsafe care simply at her rest home aren't true, that all issues raised by the commissioner have been fixed and that it provides a safe and loving environment.

But the commissioner's office says families who do have concerns with any rest home should raise a flag early.

"The very best opportunity to try and sort that out is early, directly and locally," says Rae Lamb, Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner.