Failing to care

More rest homes have been found providing substandard care, says Consumer.

"More information has now emerged about other homes where failings have been found [since Consumer's August 2009 article]... the aged-care facilities ... are part of large rest-home chains.

Small not for-profit providers have been pulling out while large for-profit providers have been expanding. Amongst the 10 largest providers of aged-care facilities, for-profit operators dominate (see Table at foot of article).

[but] ...economic pressures to maximise returns to shareholders may encourage for-profit providers to minimise expenditure, resulting in fewer staff and higher rates of "adverse events".

Age Concern says there are three key factors which increase the risk of neglect and abuse in rest homes: inadequate staffing, inadequate staff training and inadequate supervision of caregivers.

Data it has collected indicate that incidents of elder abuse and neglect are increasing. Most (70 to 80 percent) of the cases reported to Age Concern involve abuse by family members but it also hears about cases of institutional abuse or neglect. Age Concern's Jayne McKendry says it's likely the reports it receives represent the "tip of the iceberg"...

...[Consumer NZ]  think rest homes should be required to report on key indicators - not only staffing ratios but negative health indicators such as the presence of pressure sores, infections, weight loss, depression, and decreased mobility in residents...

...The lack of adequate information makes it much harder for consumers facing the task of finding a rest home either for themselves or a family member who needs long-term care.

Mandatory staff-to-resident ratios would go some way to improving quality of care across the sector."

Top 10 providers (provider/number of facilities/shareholders)

FOR PROFIT

Oceania Care Croup, 58 facilities, Macquarie Bank (Australia)

Bupa Care Services, 45 facilities, Bupa (U K )

Radius Residential Care, 22 facilities, Kuwait Finance House (Bahrain)

Ryman Healthcare, 21 facilities, Garlow Management lnc (Canada), Ngai Tahu Capital

Metlifecare, 17 facilities,  JP Morgan Nominees, FKP, Macquarie Investment Holdlngs

Ultimate Care Croup, 16 facilities, ANZ Capital NZ, ANZ Buslness Equity Trust, UCG Nominees Ltd

Summerset Care, 12, A M P Capital Investors, Quadrant Prlvate Equity

NOT-FOR-PROFIT

Presbyterian Support,  33 facilities

Christian Healthcare Trust, 8 facilities

The Selwyn Foundation, 8 facilities

> SOURCE Consumer October 2009 

[available to Consumer subscribers only; these excerpts provided for the purposes of reasonable review.]