Rest home food shock

A discovery that large numbers of elderly are malnourished brings calls for an inquiry. Photo / Alan Gibson

Aged care experts want a nationwide review of rest home meals after revelations large numbers of elderly people are malnourished.

A study of 15 of Wanganui's 17 rest homes found 23 per cent of residents were malnourished.

There are worries the snapshot reflects what is happening in rest homes throughout New Zealand.

Labour's health spokeswoman Ruth Dyson said it was unlikely Wanganui would be an exception to the rest of the country.

"The figure is concerning. It's a clear sign that there needs to be a good look into what is going on. These people are paying to be in accommodation where they are well looked after, but unfortunately neglect is commonplace," she said.

"I've heard of some horrific cases, where a meal is plonked in front of a person without them getting any help eating it. At the end of the meal the plate is taken away again and the people who couldn't feed themselves miss out."

The Wanganui study of 336 elderly rest home residents follows a report released last month that called for greater transparency, accountability and monitoring across the aged-care sector.

Minister of Health Tony Ryall had not read the report but understood malnourishment rates were comparable with Australia and other parts of the world.

Green aged care spokeswoman Sue Kedgley said lack of regulation was to blame for the "substandard" care provided by many rest homes.

"Without regulation the aged-care sector will continue to lurch from crisis to crisis, with increasingly deteriorating standards," she said.

"Imagine if they found 23 per cent of children in preschools were malnourished. There would be a national scandal."