Low Paid Caregivers a Risk for Elderly

Low Paid Caregivers a Risk for Elderly
For immediate release

A Union that represents workers in aged care residential homes and the community is marking World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by calling on District Health Boards and employers to quickly sort out their new contracts and give caregivers a desperately needed wage increase.

Service and Food Workers Union National Secretary John Ryall says that the standard of care for elderly people is being put at risk through low pay, limited training and high caregiver turnover.

“To often the media pushes stories of caregiver abuse of the elderly when it is really the conditions that these women are forced to work under that compromises the standard of care,” said John Ryall.

“Pay rates that are only slightly above the minimum wage are not going to maintain the experienced workforce that our older people need for their support.”

“Residential caregivers are regularly working double shifts because employers have constant staff shortages.”

“In the 2007 Budget the Government announced a major increase in pay rates for caregivers in residential and community care, but this is being held up through arguments between District Health Boards and employers about the conditions for passing this on to the workers,” said John Ryall.

“Older people in this country deserve better than this. It is time for action now.”

ENDS

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