Widow lashes rest home

Dr Ian Gilchrist. Photo / Supplied

A doctor who had fought for the rights of Alzheimer's patients was left to "rot and die" after succumbing to the disease himself, says his widow.

Admitted to Dargaville's Norfolk Court rest home, former Otahuhu GP Ian Gilchrist fell several times after being given the wrong medication. A CT scan showed a cracked crown and brain injuries, and he died a month later.

"It upset me he worked his socks off and when his turn came he got ignored," his wife Jennifer said.

The Human Rights' Review Tribunal fined the rest home $9000 this year after the death of Gilchrist and injuries to another elderly resident.

A registered community nurse who visited Norfolk Court while Gilchrist was there said she was appalled by what she saw.

"The smell was horrendous and the patients weren't clean," she said. "Ian was a doctor and gave so much to his community ... to end his days like that is very sad."

Gilchrist said she chose Norfolk Court because it had secure facilities, but with hindsight, she said, "I'd sooner have put him in a kennel with dogs."

When she found her 73-year-old husband stumbling on the floor she was told it was the medication. "I'm a registered nurse and have never seen medication do that to people."

Despite signing a form agreeing to restraints her husband was left unrestrained and fell out of bed four times in one night.

A mattress was put on the floor next to his bed and he bashed his head into a skirting board after falling on it. He attempted to climb over a fence to escape and tried to jump off a balcony.

Norfolk Court rest home owner Stuart House said the manager and registered nurse who had been responsible for the care of the residents at the time of the injuries no longer worked there.

The issue had been resolved with payments to Mrs Gilchrist and her family and he had written a letter of apology.

"We've been operating for 19 years and I invite anyone to talk to our residents and staff to see how well they feel they're being looked after."