Rest homes' work defended

Lara Lodge recieved both good and some concerning feedback when audited in July.

A Rotorua rest home manager defends the work of local age care services, despite audits revealing concerns in Rotorua.

The Ministry of Health launched a new website yesterday which made it easier to access information on rest homes, including audit reports.

Three rest homes in Rotorua received reports which included "a number of shortfalls that require specific action to address".

Among the shortfalls were improvements needed around dating of eye drops, fridge and hot food temperatures and medication administration.

However, Whare Aroha Home and Hospital general manager Therese Jeffs said it was easy to criticise rest homes which did great work.

She said it was not a "sexy" industry and, from her experience, rest homes in Rotorua did the best they could with the resources they had.

Whare Aroha received excellent feedback in their last audit, but Mrs Jeffs said the general public should not rely on audit information solely.

"At the end of the day they are only audit reports taken on a single day. The best thing a family member can do is to go and see a place and get a sense whether it is a good place ... and whether they connect with the staff there."

Rotorua's Lara Lodge Rest Home, which was last audited in July and received both good and some concerning feedback, said they had immediately fixed any problems raised.

A Lara Lodge spokesperson, who did not want to be named, said their aim was to provide the best care they could and they were happy to receive feedback from audits.

She said that during their last audit a single eye drop package was found undated, which was dealt with immediately.

She said many people thought ill of rest homes but they were trying to serve the elderly as well as possible, and had improved during the past 10 years in New Zealand.

Information on rest homes in Rotorua can be found at www.health.govt.nz/resthomes.