She said reports of physical and mental abuse, theft, isolation and loneliness were shocking and care for the country's elderly needed to improve.
"We want ideas from you and these meetings are held to change policies so we can better support our older people," she said.
Mr Coates said three important recommendations - the setting up of a commission for older people, better pay and conditions for carers, and greater accountability for rest homes and retirement villages - had been largely ignored.
One person said her daughter was involved in the industry and said pay and support for caregivers was totally inadequate.
"They get no recognition and some of them are being paid below the minimum wage because they are desperate for the work," she said.
Another said caregiving could be better co-ordinated. Often more than one person had to attend to the same person when one person could do both jobs.
Other suggestions were to set up an ombudsman for elderly affairs, similar to the insurance industry, while others suggested roving inspections of rest homes could improve the quality of care.
Ms Dyson and Mr Coates said the information was valuable and would be included in an update to the report in the near future.
