Tania Frisby and Donna Tolich say they are still grieving for Mary May, who died in Dunedin Hospital last November, two days after breaking both legs in a fall at the St Andrews Home and Hospital.
The Health and Disability Commissioner is still investigating the case.
The two women contacted the Otago Daily Times this week after being angered by an Auckland rest-home incident in which an elderly woman had her mouth taped shut.
Mrs Frisby said elderly people like her grandmother and the Auckland woman were not getting the consideration and respect they or their families expected from rest-home caregivers.
"Why can't we sue the home? This is where New Zealand laws stink . . . it gets back to the same old things as this poor old love who was gagged," Mrs Frisby said.
"The level of care in rest-homes is shocking. Who else out there is sitting on really huge stories?"
Mrs Frisby, Mrs Tolich, their mother Daphne Geary, aunt Hilda Tisdall and uncle Harold May began complaint procedures last year with Presbyterian Support Otago (which runs the St Andrews home), the coroner, the Department of Labour, and the Health and Disability Commission, after Mrs May died of her injuries when she fell while being lifted off the toilet.
It was the second such accident - Mrs May was severely bruised when she fell while being lifted in July - and reassurances had been made the lifting procedures would be changed and it would not happen again.
Mrs May died in Dunedin Hospital two days later, following medical advice that her many other health issues would not allow her to survive surgery.
The Health and Disability Commission is still investigating, the coroner's inquiry is on hold until the HDC has finished, Presbyterian Support Otago is seeking legal advice and the Department of Labour has decided not to prosecute.
Mrs Frisby said the family did not want a lot of money from Presbyterian Support Otago but did want someone to be held accountable and to be paid compensation as an acknowledgement of accountability and to defray their legal expenses.
Mrs Tolich said her mother, aunt and uncle were suffering their own serious health issues, as well as pain and stress after the death of Mrs May.
Mrs May (nee Cowie) was born in Tarras in 1917 and married rabbiter Albert May.
They raised four children - Hilda, Daphne, Bill (deceased) and Harold.
Mrs May was an accomplished bowls player and represented Otago in the sport.
