Church agencies fear witch hunt

Church-based rest homes are wary about an inquiry into aged care being planned by the Labour and Green parties and Grey Power.

Judy Hindrup, who convenes the services for older people group at the Council of Christian Social Services, says church agencies will probably make submissions to the inquiry but fear it will become a witch hunt.

"If they are asking for people to come forward and express opinions, I just hope that the people who have happy experiences go to those meetings as well as the people who may not have had such good experiences," she said.

Labour and Green MPs plan public meetings to be convened by Grey Power around the country "to gather data and case studies showing the treatment and care the elderly receive in rest homes or at home".

Aged Care Association chief executive Martin Taylor said church-based and other non-profit providers had shrunk from 35 per cent to 24 per cent of rest home and aged care hospital beds in the last five years as the Methodists, Presbyterians and Salvation Army have sold most of their homes.

The pricing formula used to fix government funding for the sector is being reviewed by consultants Grant Thornton for the first time in six years, with results due in August.

About 5.6 per cent of people aged 65 and over are in residential care.