Grey Power calls for watchdog

New Zealand must follow Australia’s lead and set up a new aged-care watchdog to protect the vulnerable elderly, Grey Power says.

Legislation introduced in Canberra will establish a new independent Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to crack down on failures in rest home care.

In New Zealand, Labour and the Green Party went into the election with plans to set up a similar watchdog.

A week before the election David Clark, now Health Minister, said the new Aged Care Commissioner would be provided for in a Labour-led Government’s first Budget.

However, that didn’t happen — surprising and disappointing Grey Power, which before the election had detailed problems in the sector.

Its national president, Mac Welch, said it was a major priority, given the sometimes horrifying cases of substandard care and abuse.

“The Australians have obviously recognised that their system is weak in that area, and they are creating such an office. And funding it rather generously.”

Welch said the Government was “spending money like water, and a thing like this which they have firmly committed to, we would expect to see that occur in the next Budget. And I have reinforced that with Winston Peters, who said New Zealand First would support the creation of such an office.”

Peters said his party didn’t have a policy about an Aged Care Commissioner, but was happy to put it on the caucus agenda for discussion