The Mayor of Wairoa says the town's lack of aged care beds is an emergency that has been ignored by everyone from the Prime Minister down.
Two and a half years after Cyclone Gabrielle closed the only rest home, the Hawkes Bay town with a population of 9000, still has no residential beds.
Craig Little, who is standing for re-election as Wairoa mayor, says there are an estimated 50 families in Wairoa providing hospital in-home care without access to equipment, specialist advice or medications.
He says he has written to the Prime Minister and Health Minister, and has met face to face in Wairoa with Casey Costello, the Associate Minister of Health and Minister for Seniors - but nothing has changed.
Mr Little says the elderly in Wairoa are losing their dignity and the situation is a form of elder abuse.
Kathryn also speaks with a local resident, Karen, whose father has dementia and the family is struggling to care for him.
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