Editorial: Who cares for the carers?

Nurses working in aged care across Tauranga met yesterday to discuss staffing shortages. Photo / Thinkstock

It takes a special kind of person to look after someone else.

I know I would struggle in a job where I would have to care for someone else. It takes a lot of care, patience and dedication.

In saying that, there are several people in our community who are able to put themselves on the line and look after others, who are often going through a tough time.

I applaud these people. They are the ones looking after your loved ones, making sure they have what they need.

The job is often quite thankless and hard going.

Family members and friends of mine have worked as caregivers and have told heartbreaking stories about the people they have looked after.

The work is hard but they love the fact they are helping people.

In yesterday's Bay of Plenty Times it was reported that the Nurses' Organisation warned that aged-care facilities were being run like factories and chronic staffing shortages could lead to early resident deaths.

Nurses working in aged care across Tauranga met yesterday to discuss staffing shortages, staff not being replaced, residents missing out on care and exhausted and worn-out aged-care workers.

Angela Neil, of the New Zealand Nurses' Organisation, which represents about 400 aged-care workers in the Bay of Plenty, says nurses feel they can no longer provide the care needed.

She says aged-care workers are often being paid low wages and lack support.

In a time where so many of our older residents rely on the support and care of these workers it is sad that those workers say they lack the support they feel they need.

Alistair Duncan, of the Service and Food Workers' Union, which represents about 3400 caregivers nationwide, says short staffing in aged-care facilities is a "time bomb waiting to explode on some of the most vulnerable people in New Zealand".

With our ageing population these workers will become more important and needed in our community.

It is time for something to be done and it should be established if a full blown inquiry into the aged-care industry is needed.