Best home care services in Auckland: find options near you

Drake Medox exceeded my expectations as an applicant and my expectations of the company. I didn’t have the whole idea of support work – for example, working alone even with a tetraplegic patient. Much less did I know about Drake Medox Company. I have a can-do attitude and I knew that certainly, there would be support and training for sure. After going through the application process, the pre-training, and completing the online training/modules and all onboarding courses, my confidence was boosted; I couldn’t ask for more. Drake Medox serves clients to the best standard, and trains and supports staff members and the consultants are professional, supportive, kind, and welcoming to the new workers. Drake Medox’s Culture and professional standards are superb.

Drake medox is a great place to be. They are very welcoming and kind. Writing as a support worker and I can confidently say that they offer the best trainings and support to their staffs at all times. It’s a place with our clients health, wellbeing and happiness is the top most priority

From the time I started working for Drake Medox until now a few years past, they have been always involved with my progress and providing work for me.
The supports great. Drake Medox look after their clients. By remembering the small things such as specials occasion made me as a client very valued and appreciated.
Thank you Drake Medox for all your support. Keep doing the best

Been with drake for years! Over this time I’ve had several carers.
Drake have provided me with the right flexible carers that have supported me and my son. ALL my carers have been AMAZING to say the least. Very professional. Drake , you’re the best!!

I’m writing to you today to apply for the role of Nursing Assistant/ support worker/ caregiver in your company. I graduated Bachelor of Science in Nursing last 2009. I am dedicated, hardworking nursing assistant continually striving to provide a high level of care to patients. I’m excited by the prospect of working for a commendable, high ranking establishment such as your company, and believe that my health care education, trainings, working experience and certification make me the ideal candidate for this role.
During my training at different hospitals and institutions as Nursing assistant allowed me to develop my nursing knowledge and skills necessary to deliver basic care needs including feeding, grooming, medication distribution, performing treatment plans, and providing emotional support. Where I lack experience in performing more complicated nursing tasks, I make up for in being driven to learn new skills and progress as nursing assistant. I feel that my compassion to provide excellent patient care and support, and desire to grow and learn as a health care provider, will make me an asset to your company.

Sanjana and Charlotte have worked so hard finding me the best nursing positions in Auckland over the past 6 months. They are friendly, respectful and supportive. It is so nice to know I work for a company that really has my back. Thank you both.

Enjoyed working with drake, they’re very supportive and flexible with great working opportunities. The staff are great, quick and easy to get into contact with. Have events and cute little gifts. Recommend working with drake medox.

I came to Concord House Rest Home from Auckland Hospital. I needed temporary accommodation because of my injuries. Jenni the manager has been very welcoming and friendly plus her staff have been the same. It was temporary but I have now been here now for 18 months because I now enjoy living.

Paul Gill

The rest home owner Jenni is one of the best person that I ever met. She is caring, friendly and very responsible. Last year, we were looking for a rest home and one of our friends recommended Concord House, Jenni was the first person I met and she’s super patient to answer all my questions and concerns about the rest home, and she also listened and cooperated our needs very carefully so we all have peaceful mind. Talking to her always make me warm, it’s just like talking to your old friend!

My grandma was living in Concord House for a few months and now she’s moving back home living with her family. During the time she stayed, she always said she’s well treated. All the staff are very helpful and treat her like one of the family members. The meals are also very delicious and my grandma just loved it so much! Fruits and tea are also provided on daily basis.

Overall I would highly recommend Concord House, it has everything that a rest home should have, and Jenni and the team make it to a very high standard! Everyone will be missed and I will come back and visit them in the future for sure!

I can not recommend Concord more highly. All the staff are friendly, helpful and very caring and my brother felt happy and completely at home while living there. Special mention to Olive, who gave my brother exemplary care, and is a lovely lady. Jenni, runs this home as if everyone is family, and the many, many times she has gone out of her way to do extra running around for my brother and being extremely helpful, to his needs, is really humbling. You will not be disappointed if you leave your love ones care to Jenni and Concord. Cathy Hughes

Excellent clean internal and external dwelling. Client care high standard has improved with each new owner. Family contacted with all concerns regarding health issues quickly.
Nominate them as the best caring home we have personally experienced. Access is so freely allowed

Elaine and David Porter Resident Ruth Martin family

Excellent Care. My senior friend moved into the rest home 1 year ago. they have provided excellent care for him. his health improved a lot. definitely recommended.

It hard to believe this day really happenings ,taking my dad to rest nursing home, knowing as (concord rest home)
Jenni, lovely lady who’s own the business also managing the programs for residents, a good passionate ,care , understanding ,well spoke and mindful personnel ,
The staffs are amazing, doing what best for residents and company,
Big Thank you concord rest home , for there services
Kind regards
Alexander

Very friendly staff and residents. Mum loved it there. Great service. Highly recommended.

After both my parents were here there’s no way I’d recommend it.was good to start with not now

We are so glad that we found this boutique retirement home for our dad. Every staff member was amazing, nothing was a problem and our dad loved them he was well looked after , he was very happy there. Sadly our dad passed away 12th May 2024,

Lovely rest home. My mum is happy there. The management & staff are fabulous, happy, friendly & entertaining. So glad we chose this home.

Choosing Gracedale for our late Mum, Kalala (Clare) Ma Chee was the best decision we ever made. The Management, Nursing & indeed All the staff were all exceptional individuals, full of passion & commitment to always strive for the best for Mum (and their other Residents). Nothing was ever too much; the individual rooms & quality facilities were exceptionally clean & well maintained. For us, the quality of life & quality of care were paramount and this is why Mum so enjoyed the loving friends she made with both staff & residents alike. When Covid-19 struck, the Home was ready with effective protocols keeping everyone safe. Even the staff stayed lock-in, away from their own loved ones – now that was commitment. I spent a few precious moments saying good-bye to Mum as I rushed to catch the flight out of N.Z before lockdown. Little did I know that, that was also our last farewell. Thank you Everyone at Gracedale for all the care & love extended to all of us during Mum’s year’s in your care. God Bless you All.

Like all age care facilities, they only provide premium rooms in the Private hospital, but for someone who is bed bound, an ensuite is not needed or worth the extra money paid over and above funding. How to make money out of the aging population is what this comes down to.

A caring Christian rest home. Caring for my father in law. Modern, smart building, rooms and setting. Irecommend them.

Visited family friend. Facilities were clean and decorated lovely for Christmas.

Elsie Butler is a care worker helping me after an accident. I can’t speak highly enough of her. She is compassionate, very professional & thorough, and got me physiotherapy help when needed.Elsie is always smiling & a lovely person. Ashley Lake, a physiotherapist has also been assisting & is being, extremely helpful

I was refered to Life plus through ACC for domestic help due to my injury. I had a call from someone from LifePlus and I was keen on having support asap. I clearly informed them my domestic help requirements and they in turn sent a roaster asap and requested me to provide the cleaning resources ready as their person may not get it. A woman in a black leather jacket comes the next day and after providing the whole cleaning kit, and informing her the tasks to be done, the woman was very unprofessional, rude and argumentative and told me that she ‘wasn’t a cleaner’ upon requesting her to use the appropriate tools to clean. For eg. to use the noor to scrub the basin and metal surface in the shower instead of a cloth, which she used to clean the glass shower door. She rang her Manager, and inturn complained against me in front of me. Being in pain and confused I requested to speak to the person. Luckily I had spoken to the same lady her a day before. The domestic helper continued to be rude and not doing her job properly and arging with me. I was extremely upset with this unprofessional behavior and left the room to let her finish her task & leave. I heard her do the dishes and inquired if she had changed the gloves thay she had used to clean the toilet with. Upon which this woman(I wouldn’t like to take her name) again snapped at me saying she had only 1 pair. I was absolutely upset and it was affecting my pain level and my health as I had provide her with the entire kit. I requested her again to see tge bagbof resources I had provided her with and showed her 2 sets of gloves in the kit which she adamantly said that she had not seen. I requested her to stop the doubfvthe dishes withvthe same gloves. I politely told her to place the clothes wadhed in the washing machibe, on the clothes line I the outdoors, after washing her hands, and leave from there itself.

I was in not capasity to deal with this rude, disrespectful, unprofessional person snd I was feeling even more unwell in her presence.

I emailed the Manager( who’s name i shall not take for professional reasons) asap regarding the matter. The Manager was sorry about it and justified the action, which to me was unacceptable. I rang up ACC about this incident that very day and canceled Life Plus. I also emailed the Manager and terminated their service. I also sent the Manager photos I had taken of her unclean work as an attachment with my email.

This was the last thing I wanted when I am so unwell and injured and in pain and incapacitated to do my own housework!

I have used other agencies before for my residential services, of which this was my worst experience!

Apart from the last part, this is not a review – it’s simply a description of what Life plus can actually be like.

Life plus carer W had been a senior nurse and is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced carers in the company. She became a tutor to many of the caregivers she worked with, providing much of the practical training Life plus leaves out. She was always professional in her work, and always loyal to the company.

Like the other carers she was mostly supervised by junior office staff. One day one of these people told her one of her regular clients was going to be switched to another carer who needed more work. This was a 10% pay cut with no warning. Employment law doesn’t allow such practices.

Because carer W was loyal she wasn’t going to complain. But as a client I did to the Life plus manager Michelle Batchelor about carer W and another underpaid carer. Ms. Batchelor’s response was not willingness to consider what I said. It was just to get angry.

I thought people thinking of working for Life plus should know what kind of company it is so I provided a review describing what I had seen. Ms. Batchelor’s response was this: “Please be aware that any false statements posted publicly defaming Life Plus or its employees or managers moving forward will be met with an appropriate legal response”. Another interesting response was that, as if by magic, several complimentary reviews appeared the day after mine – they are the 6 months old reviews here. How did that happen?

She also refused to provide further care for me. And carer W, who had already had her income cut by 10% and had not complained at all, was told by the junior office work that she would be given only 3 hours work a week – that meaning she went from permanent to a casual worker – and that meant no sick leave or annual leave.

When she asked if she could have 12 hours the person said no – only 3 hours or redundancy. When she asked how much a redundancy payment might be she was told she couldn’t have one as her contract said no redundancy.

That is how Life plus treated one of their best and most loyal caregivers. This only one of several examples I saw of the way this company treats its most valuable staff.

MY REVIEW: My review is that behind all the glossy photos and smiling faces on the Life plus website, this is the other side of that company. I saw the caregivers treated mostly as just ATMs, sent out to provide the company’s income, working for a “caring” company that shows little sign of caring for its most valuable employees, as the example shows.
Ms. Batchelor may act on her threat to take legal action against this review. I am relaxed about that as everything here is fact. More worrying is that, such is their attitude, they may try to punish carer W further, even though, through loyalty, she has stayed silent through all of this.. A company like that is one you may or may not want to work for. There are others.

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Lifeplus looked after me when I had my accident last year, Elsie took care of me, she is a very caring person and now that her care for me is finished I miss her caring attitude so much. Always on time and cheerful in her work. I was very pleased with the care and attention from the company, thank you Lifeplus for sending Elsie to care for me.

Lifeplus have developed a strong reputation based around quality, service delivery and the ability to offer highly trained experienced staff to meet their clients need. The coordinators makes sure that all the support workers have their guaranteed hours, a work-life balance is achieved. Though times can be rough sometimes but they still giving their best in providing care/services.

I’ve been working with them for ages. Through highs and lows I have stayed. Thank you Lifeplus for everything.❤️ More power!

As support worker to lifeplus Auckland I can say that this company is expert for being a Healthcare provider to our client and always had a concern to all their staff , and also all the staffs are very professional , friendly , polite ,easy to communicate and they serve with a heart ❤️ . 100% I recommend this company to served , protect and care about your loveone regarding to Healthcare.

thanks so much LIFEPLUS and ACC to referring Lifeplus in my critical accident for helping me be in most vulnerable state . For home help Esther Bong and especially Elsie Butler did exceptional and outstanding job with full honest and no complain. Will recommend to all looking for caregiving company and best employees

I am so grateful to the staff snd management of Claire Home. It is a home away from home. Warm, loving and caring. Absolutely the best for my mum.

Lovely beautiful place, with a wonderful team of staff.

Just beautiful. Lovely rooms . Stunning gardens. Very friendly helpful staff and a wonderful level of care.

Beautiful place and people

Homy

Abode were incredibly professional and pulled out all stops to meet our last minute request for care. The communication was also excellent via the use of the shiftcare website

Thank you so much for the wonderful care you gave my 90 year old mother while she was recovering from a fall which lead to a hip replacement operation. Through the efficient and caring support she received from all the staff at Abode she has been able to make great progress and regain confidence.
All the carers were punctual, assessed mums needs and acted accordingly. We couldn’t wish for better service. Thank you.

Abode helped us when our Mum needed care. Mum was at home with Dementia and we had carers from Abode coming in morning and afternoon to support her. As time went by these wonderful people became friends. They were professional, kind, caring and provided us with fantastic support and advice. I would definitely recommend Abode if you are looking for top notch care for a loved one.

Love Abode HomeCare. Ladies are lovely, always friendly and will go out of their way to assist. Nothing is a problem and always there for a nice chat.

Excellent interpersonal skills from all staff members. Very caring caregivers and fast efficient service after first contact

Abode Home Care provided compassionate and very competent personal care over the last month of my wife’s life. We had an excellent carer and happily recommend this company to others.

Pre approval for $8,000.00 of support was organised with this company. Unfortunately for us after having double major surgery on my spine, I was discharged and momentarily needed to stay elsewhere which was not in the plan, I informed the company, asking them if I should contact them when I was due to go back home.. they then replaced me with other jobs. I understood this thinking it would just be a couple or phew days and they would slot me in at the next availability. But, the day going home due to the stress id been under needing to fly my daughter to carers in the south island so I could recover, my heart persisted over 120bpm. Her flight was early the next morning so I reached out to the nurses to let them know I was a bit worried, needed to get my daughter on this trip so I could recover (this was also unplanned as I had a carer for her but it didn’t work out) I asked if It was possible I could be seen. Only then did they let me know that I wouldn’t be getting a nurse at all, keeping in mind I had a months cover organised and pre approval received by them, they let me know they had taken other jobs and had no one left to service me… a month out? Just like that?. Was really disappointing they had not at least let me know when they made that decision. L. So to give me the opportunity to organise another business before returning home away from alternative supports.

The crispiest chips I’ve ever had in my life!

Friendly and deeply caring team of people.

Good

Unbelieveably useless,. We have had three different cleaners in 4 weeks , all of whom were dreadful. It was “we not do this we dont do that allthe time.” One lady was about 8months pregeant and was suspose to clean around the skirtings. Now on earth??? The cleaners a susposed to and are paid for 1 hour. Never has anyone been here 1 hour. Normally gone within half an hour. How on earth does this business exist.

Beyond useless. I am extremely frustrated with the service provided by Geneva Healthcare for my mother’s daily care. The entire experience has been marked by a lack of organisation, poor communication, and a total disregard for the well-being of my mother.

From the beginning, it was clear that they were not properly coordinating or managing my mother’s care needs. Schedules were frequently mixed up, and there were instances where caregivers would show up at the wrong times, or not at all. When we tried to address these issues with Geneva, their response was slow and unhelpful, and the communication was nothing short of disastrous.

The lack of follow-through on simple tasks and the failure to keep us informed on changes or updates was completely unacceptable. We were left constantly chasing them for answers and having to re-explain our mother’s care requirements to different staff, which is both stressful and exhausting.

It is clear that Geneva Healthcare is in desperate need of a full audit and a major overhaul of their management systems. The lack of professionalism and proper care coordination is worrying, and I wouldn’t recommend their services to anyone who requires consistent and reliable home care.

Change is needed, and Geneva must take accountability for their inadequate service.

This is the worst organisation I’ve ever dealt with! My stepfather was assigned someone to bath him and they were meant to turn up last Monday. No one did so we rang and they said everyone is busy and they will come on Wednesday at 2. My stepfather rang and they said at 2.15. The woman finally came but didn’t wash my stepfather properly at all and used her hands and no washcloth or was washed his rear end and it was over within minutes. Next cleaning day was Friday (today) and at 2pm no one had arrived, so we called and they said the person was busy and someone will come at 3. It ended up being the same woman from Wednesday who left a filthy bathtub and water over the floor. She didn’t wash his hair or bum again.
My stepfather is very angry with it all.

Useless company, in December of 2022 when they finally got around to sending a cleaner for my 95 year old grandmother, the cleaner had a bad cold with no mask on. I was not present at the time but if I was I would have told her to leave. Your company mainly focuses around looking after elderly people. The choice of this company ended up killing my grandma, she caught the virus and it turned into pneumonia. Also thanks for deleting my original review I made back in 2022, I will keep posting if need be so everyone is aware of how useless this company is. Prior to this incident, we would always have cleaners that were suppose to show up but they were either very late, extremely rude or didn’t even show. The reason for my anger is that someone came into our household with a COLD/VIRUS, which should have never happened

If there was less stars then I would have given it.
I am absolutely fed up with their lack of communication, slack support staff who tell me that my coordinator phoned when I have ph records stating nothing of the sort. The lies and garbage between the staff is just amazing. I got a message from my coordinator yesterday stating that he was sorry, couldn’t find a worker, then miraculously at 1245 pm today a person just showed up. I had to ask who are you? Where r u from?
I am to have 2 hrs per week for housework, changing bed etc, a full list of which is documented by Genevas Service Plan person who comes out to see me and works out the time it should take.in the last couple,of visits, the worker has only done 1/2 hr. My kitchen surfaces NOT even wiped, let alone the doors etc as specified in my plan. Wow, then we have a bathroom – shall I take a photo of the dust and dead crap left in the bath and around the bath. Not touched. Supposed to change my bed and put washing out – not done. Mop the floors, but walk all over them, and as it is laminated wood, leave footprints everywhere. Grrrrrr. I could just keep going on and going on. BUT I guarantee the worker has claimed their full 2 hrs.
Try to phone to put report in about how rubbish the job – can’t get through to coordinator and get advised that oh, he tried to phone u several times. OH NO HE DIDNT. NOT ONE MISSED CALL ON MY PHONE !!!!!!!!
Come on Geneva, pull your finger out and stop stealing off ACC by charging them for work that isn’t done. Get some staff that actually want to work and know how to clean.

I have only used this company for less than a month and already NOT A GOOD START ! Geneva has the worst customer service and organization skills. The first week and second week (Tuesday) no one turned up to do Personal Care. There has been a couple of times for Respite at Home that no one has turned up or a replacement turns up late ( I work and need someone here from 10am to 12pm).
Getting a text the night before or that morning saying no is coming and that Geneva are looking for a replacement does not give you time to inform your employer. Geneva do not give you updates of any kind and sometimes a carer turns up and your not sure why they are there or you have already done the Personal Care yourself.
Oh how about this, getting a call 15mins before that a caree is supposed to arrive to be told they are not coming.
I have had a replacement carer turn up rushed of her feet because shes come from across town and the last thing you want is a tired carer.

I’m new to all this but had I have known what Geneva was like this, I would of researched other Healthcare providers — I am looking elsewhere! —

Useless organisation and admin. New workers that come don’t get told what to do, some workers do hardly anything and when you ask to have someone else; nine times out of ten it’s the same person you usually get! There are some good workers out there that care and do what they’re supposed to do but not many.

My mother who manages my grandparents care rang two weeks in advance to cancel the workers for two weeks and a worker came anyway and they were only told they had been cancelled while they were at our house! How ridiculous!

I don’t recommend this companies services!

The best workplace ever! Good amenities. I appreciate the team culture, the management and HR! If you want to improve your communication and have excellent world class training and experience, apply now!

I worked for RDNS for 3 years through this time I had the opportunity to work amongst an amazing group of people who were supportive during my time there especially during my study. As a student working part time it was a great experience learning from others and learning new skills within my job role.
I was also a recipient of the Pacifica and Maori Scholarship that is amounngst one of the Scholarships that RDNS allocates every year and encourage any one working there to apply if they are looking to further their studies.
It has been a pleasure working for RDNS and only wish them great things for the future as I know how hard all their staff work to help provide the support that is needed in the community ☺️.

Carers lie about turning up or are consistently late. Several times we have been called saying no one is home… while we are at home!

Staff are logging visits and times that haven’t even occurred. Today, was told someone knocked at 8:45am (they are meant to arrive at 7:30-8am, so late!!)… checked cameras at home and no one has even been to the house.

We are allocated 2hrs a day.. some days carers refuse to shower or do allocated tasks and say it is not their job. When carers arrive late in the morning, showers are not possible. So we have asked evening staff… they say “it’s not my task to do. I only have 20mins to say hello and check she is okay”. Family and up having to do showers… which defeats the purpose of having you!?

They don’t even give meds as allocated and often turn up early (3-4pm) and can’t be given night meds anyways. Allocated time is 7:30pm. Do these carers just finish early and go home but log later times for extra $$?? You’re getting government money and not even providing the service!!!

Edit: 29/04/25
I spoke with Cara yesterday regarding the above issues. A plan was made and agreed upon over the phone.

Today the carer turns up, states she is only allocated 15-20mins and can’t get my grandmother ready for the day as that is not her rostered job and refused. As per our agreement, she is to be assisted to get ready for the day. These carers are refusing to do the bare minimum and then not even sighting her taking her medication. What is the point and what are you claiming the governments money for? I will be calling you again Cara, as this is NOT what you agreed upon yesterday and certainly not what we discussed. I will be looking into other providers and how we go about changing. This appears to be an ongoing issue and may even need to be escalated further so others and perhaps MOH are aware of how their money is being spent.

Have a wonderful bunch of support workers who look after me and I like the fact that this often doesn’t change so I get great continuity of care. I also appreciate the fact that managenr are available and quickly handle any problems.

Unprofessional, Unhelpful extremely Rude staff members. The company has Unqualified Nurses, their Office Manager has no customer service, and the Auckland General Manager has no Skills! No one gets back to you and no queries are EVER followed up on! Staff member verbally and mentally abuses the elderly in their own home leaves the home in a mess complete disrespect of the property. Be careful they are not the service provider they say they are! Horrible company to deal with.
Option Should give us no stars! Failed Service
IT IS NEVER EVER OK TO BULLY THE ELDERLY

Today I was so happy when I visited my friend Patricia Hendry in Glen Innes. When I arrived there were two lovely people cleaning her house. I asked their names and they told me Sheila and Sonny. They were so good at their job which was hard work giving Patricia’s house a top to bottom clean! I have so much admiration for these two outstanding workers who work for you. I said I hope you get paid well for what you do. It was a big job that needed doing. So thank you so so much for helping my dear friend.

I miss rdns… my carers francais dicarpo
And shine Sharma….we got along so.long
Am hoping to have them.again
If rdns not too busy !!!!

.

I have had a op to reconstruction of my ankle and non weight bearing. The carer’s at access were great at first , I have 1 carer that came for ny personal cares and she stood outside the bathroom instead of helping me in and out of the shower. My cares are all over the place and sometimes I dont have breakfast til 1pm or they are a no show . I would like to have carers who qould help.

I’m leaving this review on behalf of my mother, Karen.
She is looking after her mother (my granny) who has very advanced dementia and has carers coming in to help with changing her showering etc. At present my grandad is in the hospital with cancer. One of the carers found his wallet at home and stole it, there was an $800 charge before my mother realised it had been stolen. I can’t express how frustrated and disappointing this is to hear. My mother has called and left a message (on Wednesday) for Kerryn (not sure on the spelling) it is now Friday and she hasn’t had any follow up. This is absolutely appalling.

After writing the review below Access called to find out the issues. Listened and were kind. Watch this space.

Worst experience ever. They don’t listen, are disorganized and their comms system means being on hold for a long time

My experience with Access – I ruptured my Achilles and was assessed as requiring 1 hour of cleaning a week as prescribed to certain areas and tasks; not including deep cleans of ovens etc.

What I received was 15-20 mins of sub par cleaning before leaving with, “I’ve finished all my tasks”.

I questioned why all the areas of shower surfaces have not been wiped down and was met with, “we only clean the glass, the other surfaces are a deep clean” – this makes absolutely no sense. For reference 1 of 2 glass surfaces had been cleaned which was only partially wiped.

The vacuuming was done to an okay standard.  Anything requiring a wipe down is carried out with token spray and cloth to surface, and no elbow grease whatsoever.  Not even the whole surface is wiped.

My 18 month old can do a better job than this.

I wouldn’t be classed as overly vulnerable compared to other peoples situation but I do question if this is happening to others who really need the help.

Is this company giving sub-par cleaning surfaces and taking advantage of other, more vulnerable people?  What are they doing for the remaining 45 mins of the time?

What’s clear is that 1 hours of cleaning is required and either the company or the cleaners are profiting from leaving early.

Either way it’s a disgrace that Access is designed to support those in need and those in need are clearly being taken advantage of.

Don’t even begin your loved ones home care with Access. Disappointing, unsafe, unreliable, inconsistent and poor communication.
If your elderly family member is assessed to need care in own home, please go with a different agency.

We were referred to this organisation via the Bay of Plenty District Health Board. At the time we received the referral, we were very grateful (as was my Mum who was quite unwell) and who up until that time had tried to manage on her own at home. Initally she was receiving assistance in the home several mornings a week and her caregiver was outstanding and they both got on very well. Challenges arose for us on days where her caregiver was not available and also when we needed to ‘ramp up’ assistance with some cleaning and bed making once a week, thus requiring an additional caregiver. We found it extremely frustrating trying to get through on the 0800 number and to get information on who would be coming and when they would be coming. It seems that they had a very limited pool of staff and very limited flexibility when one staff member was on leave or unavailable due to ill health, etc. We had to ring several times a day just to get a response and to find out what was going on so that we could make other arrangements for my Mother’s various needs. Because my Brother and I were in different cities and unable to be present all of the time this was extremely stressful. For an organisation that is working so closely with a District Health Board, we were terribly disappointed at times. This doesn’t mean that we weren’t grateful for the assistance that we received, we were indeed grateful, but I think that what we witnessed this organisation struggling with is an endemic problem here in New Zealand, with a growing population of elderly and limited resources to support them. Full marks to all of the staff on the phone lines and also to those who came to support Mum, all of whom tried to help, but I think the management of this organisation needs to take a long hard look at the difference between their promotional material and what actually happens in the field.

Absolutely the worst care service ever. We thought Geneva were bad until we went to Access. Can be up to an hour to answer their phone (same for their support workers), and often carers don’t turn up, or don’t know what to do, or can’t even enter the house. We have a small book of logged issues with Access and none of their management even care, especially Chief Op’s Officer Androulla Kosotros. We are appealing to Health Minister and Ombudsman to get them defunded.

2021: One of their support workers had a client die in her presence & she just left the house without telling anyone.

2022: Access SW told elderly client that Pfizer vaccine “causes miscarriages”