Aged care monitoring
The Chief Ombudsman monitors the conditions and treatment of people who are detained in health and disability facilities, including aged care facilities. These are places where people are not free to leave at will, such as dementia care and specialised hospital care (psychogeriatric care).
In June 2018, the Minister of Justice made it explicit that the Ombudsman is to monitor aged care facilities as part of his role monitoring places of detention.
Chief Ombudsman's role in examining and monitoring aged care facilities
Monitoring helps ensure people are treated humanely and their rights are respected and protected. It also ensures Aotearoa New Zealand adheres to international human rights standards.
Why the Chief Ombudsman monitors places of detention - brochure
Expectations
This document sets out some of the matters the Chief Ombudsman considers when assessing the conditions and treatment of residents.
Legal framework
More about the legal framework the inspections are conducted under.
COVID-19 inspections
The Chief Ombudsman conducted a series of short, targeted inspections between April and June 2020 to provide an independent assessment of how detention facilities responded to COVID-19.
Parliament’s independent watchdog to inspect secure aged care facilities during COVID-19 pandemic – media statement
COVID-19 reports
These reports summarise the Chief Ombudsman's observations, recommendations, and suggestions.
Complaints
The Chief Ombudsman monitors aged care facilities to prevent human rights violations occurring. He isn't able to investigate individual complaints about private facilities.
There are a number of agencies involved in dealing with complaints about health and disability facilities, depending on the circumstances. Find out more on the Ministry of Health's website.
Complaints about a health and disability service
Programme development
With funding secured from 1 July 2019, an examination and monitoring programme was developed and introduced over three years.
The 'orientation' phase has been completed and inspections are started from July 2021, as planned.