Long-term care for elderly New Zealanders is becoming a byproduct of the property development business.

A caregiver says elderly residents at a rest home in the Wellington area were dressed again in dirty continence pads to save money on new pads.

A two-month Herald investigation of rest homes has found some major failings - including a confused married woman "mauled" by a resident and a 9-month scabies outbreak.

Full rest home and private hospital audit reports will be published online from tomorrow in a six-month trial to see whether people read them.

Retired air force warrant officer Frank Bailey, MBE, has never been a complainer. But when he speaks of his late wife, Lilian, he chokes up.