The aged care sector is having to turn away new residents amid a 1200 nursing shortage.
It means some older people are staying in hospitals or at home.
Aged Care Commissioner Carolyn Cooper says immigration settings and a lack of funding for education and training are contributing to the shortage.
Arvida Chief Executive Jeremy Nicoll told Tim Dower they look offshore but the process can take between five and six months.
He says they have to be a credited employer, go through a visa process, get the nurses in the country and get their qualifications recognised in New Zealand.
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