July 05, 2019
Pensioner death raises council care concern
Manurewa Local Board chair Angela Dalton says Auckland Council needs to take more responsibility for the care of the elderly in its properties.
The council is investigating the circumstances around the death of Bryan McGinty, whose body lay undiscovered for several days in his Manurewa flat until neighbours pleaded with the complex managers to check on his welfare.
The Leabank Court site is one of 1400 pensioner flats previously run by the council but now managed by Haumaru Housing, a joint venture between Auckland Council and The Selwyn Foundation.
Ms Dalton says she has in the past forwarded on complaints from residents about a lack of support.
"Council in my view has a responsibility too and I have correspondence going to council saying where is our care for the well being of our people in the housing for the elderly. Now that we have 51 percent of the responsibility, who is it that is going out there and caring for our people and making sure they are OK," she says.
Copyright © 2019, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com