Resthome resident lay dead for 12 days

Coroner Ian Smith. Photo / File

A Wellington resthome resident lay dead in his apartment for 12 days because no-one went to check up on him or noticed that his mail was not being cleared.

Former New Zealand Symphony Orchestra principal flautist Richard Giese, 85, died of a heart attack at his Rita Angus village apartment last year.

At a coroner's inquest in Wellington yesterday it was revealed a neighbour noticed his lights were on all day and she had not heard him play for a week.

She told village staff and police were called, Fairfax Media reported.

Mr Giese's former wife Myra Giese said she was thankful that it appeared he had died immediately.

"My nightmare is that someone might have a fall or a stroke and be lying there impaired for weeks."

Mrs Giese said she was shocked to receive a death certificate that said Mr Giese died some time between February 18 and March 8.

The vagueness of the date led her to ring the coroner.

It was hard to believe that no-one had noticed his mail box was not emptied and that no-one had checked him, she said.

Susan Bowness, North Island regional manager for Ryman Healthcare, which runs Rita Angus, said residents were able to request daily checks, for a fee of $6 a day, which Mr Giese had not asked for.

The company was not required to check on its independent residents.

"It needs to be understood that they are truly independent -- they only get the services they request," she said.

She felt it would be intrusive and a breach of the residents' privacy to check on them without being asked.

Coroner Ian Smith reserved his decision.

- NZPA