The Health and Disability Commissioner has ordered a rest home in Auckland to apologise to the family of a woman who died after being neglected during two weeks respite care in 2009.
The rest home, run by the Northbridge Lifecare Trust, has also been ordered to improve its services.
At the time, the woman was able to move short distances with a walking frame, but needed help with all other aspects of care.
She ate only small amounts of food and often refused her medication.
When the daughter returned from a two-week overseas trip, she found her mother, 90, had lost weight and was dehydrated. She died the following day.
The commissioner's report says the ward's team leader knew the woman was not eating or taking medication, but failed to monitor her.
