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The Aged Care Commissioner is concerned about the future care of the elderly in many of our provincial towns.
Nine to Noon has reported recently on woes in the sector, with the Aged Care Association warning many smaller towns are on the brink of having no aged care beds for frail elderly, nor adequate in-home care.
This is already the case in Wairoa, where the last rest home in the town has been closed since Cylone Gabrielle, and its estimated more than 50 whanau are caring for vulnerable elders in unsatisfactory conditions.
Health New Zealand is developing a new funding model which it says will address the issues, and Associate Minister of Health Casey Costello has told Nine to Noon the new model will have no negative impacts on care.
But the Aged Care Association says it has been shut out of consultation and it believes cuts are planned.
Aged Care Commissioner, Carolyn Cooper, who has been touring some smaller towns and visiting providers, says she is worried.
