Residential care

When making the decision to go into a care home it is common to experience a lot of conflicting feelings. You and your family/whānau may have had quite differing views on the benefits of this and the decision may not have been easily reached. This is one of life’s major...

The short answer is: not necessarily. The reality is we are all sexual beings, and many people wish to continue an active sex life into their older age. It may be that you currently have a partner and you are facing separation due to the need for residential care, perhaps...

Julie Watson, who used to run Silver Rainbow workshops (LGBTQIA+ education for those working in the aged care sector) answers this question for us. If I was asked this question, I would want to see some things done immediately for this person. Their care home is their home and is...

When moving into a care home, many people are concerned about their privacy. You have a right to expect your privacy around your personal needs, health, and finances to be protected and respected. When you choose your home be observant and watch the interactions between staff and residents. Respectful behaviour...

Closing or downsizing an aged residential care (ARC) facility can have serious implications for everyone involved. That's why facilities need to follow a set of guidelines to make the process as smooth and supportive as possible. Crucially, residents should continue to receive quality care as specified under the facility’s Age...

1. Get an assessment (unless you are fully private paying)- know what level of care you need Your assessment will have indicated your eligibility for care. Make sure you know what level of care you need. In New Zealand the interRAI assessment is used to determine your needs. 2. Find...

Although it is more common for one person to be assessed as needing residential care, couples can and do move into a care home together. In fact, some care homes have rooms specifically suited to couples. On Eldernet , you can filter search results by ‘Rooms suitable for a couple’...

Unless you are a a fully-private payer (i.e., paying for your care completely out of your own pocket), to move into a rest home or care home in New Zealand you will need to have an assessment, known as interRAI. This determines whether you need this type of care and...

You can transfer to a rest home in another region of New Zealand if you choose to. In certain situations, you may have to transfer if your care needs change and the home you currently reside in does not offer the level of care you require. Before you transfer, you...

Yes, you may try out a care home (often called a rest home ) before making a commitment. You should have had an assessment first (unless you are fully private paying), and been assessed as requiring care. You will have to pay for this yourself, but you’ll probably find it’s...

If your preferred care home only has a premium room available that attracts extra fees and you can’t or don’t want to pay these the following applies: if a standard room is vacant at another home within a 10 km radius you may have to go there; if you are...

No you don't need a Care Plan to move into a care home but one will be developed with you either before or on your arrival. A Care Plan details how care will be delivered to you when moving into a care home. It is created based on the results...

Care homes (also known as rest homes or residential care facilities) and retirement villages are often talked about as if they're the same thing, but they're not. They serve different purposes and are governed by different legislation and regulations. Care home / residential care Many people use the term rest...

Entry to residential care is managed by a process known as Needs Assessment 1) To begin this process you either need to talk to your doctor about the issues that you are having or you can contact the agency responsible for managing assessments (known as NASC or sometimes Care Co-ordination)...

Use the Eldernet Vacancy Status Report for your region: select the correct region AND your required level of care; select View in table (located on the right side of your screen); look for care homes showing a vacancy from the Vacant Beds column and No and Some from the '...

Use the Eldernet site where each level of care i.e., rest home, dementia, hospital and specialist hospital (psychogeriatric) care in Aotearoa New Zealand is shown. See: dementia level of care , select your region and find the facility that best meets your needs. If you urgently need to find a...

Use the Eldernet site where each level of care, i.e., rest home, dementia, hospital and specialist hospital (psychogeriatric) care in Aotearoa New Zealand is identified. Select hospital level of care and find the facility that best meets your needs. If you urgently need to find a hospital provider that has...

All psychogeriatric facilities in Aotearoa New Zealand are listed on the Eldernet site. Find vacancies in these facilities HERE. Make sure to select your region or zoom into your area on the map. For more information about residential care For: an overview of residential care For: details of all residential...

Use the Eldernet site where each level of care i.e., rest home, dementia, hospital and specialist hospital (psychogeriatric) care in Aotearoa New Zealand is shown. For rest home level of care see: rest home level of care Select your region and find the facility that best meets your needs. If...

All care homes have policies around such events which are guided by New Zealand health authorities. Social connection and physical contact with whānau are fundamental to the health and wellbeing of those in aged residential care (ARC). Care providers have policies in place that enable safe visiting, social activities and...

We are sorry but we don't provide reviews of rest home/care homes for very good reasons. We do, however, provide a place for facilities to add testimonials; if a facility has a testimonial, you'll find this on the listing below the Bed and Vacancy Details section. Most residential care providers...

Remember, a care home (rest home) is your home: just like any home you live in, you can choose to move if you wish. To start the process of moving, contact your local Needs Assessment Coordination Service (NASC) to let them know you want to transfer. They may do another...

The short answer is, yes -sort of – but not quite. "Care home" and "residential care" are generic terms. They describe the overall service: a place where people live and receive care and support when they need help with daily living. A "rest home", on the other hand, refers to...

The Ministry of Health website's Rest home certification and audits section shows which facilities are certified to deliver specific types or levels of care. The longest period or certification given is five years. A shorter period usually indicates that the auditors require additional work to be done in order for...

This article assumes that you have been assessed as being eligible for residential care and that you also have the option of staying at home. It is not easy hearing that others want you to make a potentially life changing decision. It is likely that there has been an event...

You can contact the home and ask to go on a waiting list. Start to build a rapport with the home and if possible, give some reasons for why this is your first choice of home. In the meantime, make alternative arrangements with a care home elsewhere. You can move...

You will find all the information you need here on the Eldernet site including, the process for accessing this service and a listing for every rest home or care home in the country. Eldernet Residential Care gives older people and those supporting them free, unbiased, and comprehensive information about moving...

Check out the Knowledge Lab for comprehensive information about: Levels of care The Residential Care Subsidy Financial means assessment for a Residential Care Subsidy Premium rooms Dual use rooms Care suites The 10km rule and much more.

Care homes offer a wide range of accommodation options, at varying price levels. Something that costs extra in one home (like an ensuite) may be included at no additional cost in another, so it's good to ask lots of questions and make comparisons. Years ago, most rest homes in New...

What are levels of care in New Zealand? Levels of care are essentially types of care. Currently there are four ‘levels of care’ in New Zealand: Rest Home Those who require this level of care usually have some ability to get about on their own or with some help. They...

Dual use (or “swing”) beds are rooms that can support more than one level of care - typically rest home or hospital care - to be provided in the same room, which means the resident doesn't need to change rooms. This can be especially reassuring if you’re worried about the...

Standard rooms and services are those that are covered by the Age Related Residential Care Agreement (ARRC). All Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (formerly District Health Boards) contracted providers must meet the requirements of this agreement (currently all residential care providers are contracted in New Zealand/Aotearoa). Exam­ples of...

Levels of care are essentially types of residential care in New Zealand for older adults. D6 is an older term that may still be used in parts of the South Island to refer to Psychogeriatric Specialist Hospital level of care. This level of care is designed for people with a...

Premium accommodation is that which provides amenities over and above the ARRC agreement requirements. It attracts additional daily costs of $5 to $100 plus. These services may include fixed features (such as an ensuite, tea/coffee making area or a view for example) and/or features associated with the room (such as...

ACA is the abbreviation for the Aged Care Association New Zealand. This organisation (previously colloquially referred to as NZACA) is the professional body that represents nearly all providers of Aged Residential Care in New Zealand (that is, rest homes, dementia care home, and aged care hospitals). These providers pay a...

The Age Related Residential Care contract (often referred to as the ARC or ARRC agreement) is actually one of two agreements between health funders and contracted providers of residential care services. These agreements define the national standards for the delivery of services in residential care facilities in New Zealand. These...

For many people, moving to a rest home or care home brings up a range of emotions, from a sense of loss to anticipation. Moving involves quite a lot of planning and can feel daunting. Often, people worry about downsizing their possessions, losing the things that they take pleasure in...

Most commonly, people move into care because deterioration in health and management of their care makes it too difficult to remain at home. While you don't need an assessment to access residential care if you are fully paying for the services out of your own pocket, it can be useful...

On Eldernet Residential Care, the vacancies of care homes across the country are updated every Monday to Friday, so you can be sure the information provided is up-to-date. Find vacancies in your region here: www.eldernet.co.nz/vacancies

Choosing a residential care facility (like a care or rest home) that is a member of a formal organisation, such as the Aged Care Association (ACA) , assures you that the rest home meets high standards of care and service. The ACA is a national organisation that represents nearly all...

If you cannot (or no longer wish to) pay the premium accommodation charges, you can review your premium tenancy 18 months after admission and every six months thereafter. The provider then has six months to move you to a standard room, giving three days’ notice, or cease charging premium room...

There’s a lot to get your head around when it comes to how much of your care home fees you have to pay yourself and for how long. The rules and regulations governing this include means assessments and asset tests. You are responsible for paying for, or contributing towards, your...

In New Zealand, a financial means assessment is a process used to determine an individual's eligibility for a residential care subsidy , which helps cover the costs of long-term residential care services. This assessment evaluates the person's financial situation and determines their ability to contribute towards the cost of their...

The June 2025 figures (known as ‘financial contribution’ ) cover the cost to 'the eligible person' of a standard bed/room and range from $1,460.27 to $1,535.66 per week (depending on where they live in the country). This amount is also known as the Maximum Contribution. (MC) Many care homes now...

You are responsible for paying for, or contributing towards, residential care services just as you would pay for whatever you needed if you lived elsewhere. There is a maximum amount that you will have to pay (as long as provider meets certain requirements which all providers listed in the residential...

We understand, the cost for living in a residential care home does seem high, however a bit of a reality check shows that it’s not at all. The following is a comparison with someone living in a hotel and buying in home support services three times a week. No other...

If the care homes are in the same defined geographical region then the quick answer is 'no'. The maximum you have to pay for your contracted care, basic accommodation, meals, laundry etc. is known as the Maximum Contribution. These payment rates, which vary according to where you live (the regions...

A care suite (sometimes also known as a care apartment) is generally a retirement village offering with care components governed by the Age-Related Residential Care (ARRC) Agreement. It offers the same type of care as a care home and is bound by the same rules. As this is a type...

A premium room (or a room that has premium accommodation charges) is a room that has features that are NOT required under the Age Related Residential Care Agreement (ARRC) (i.e., they are over and above the standard features and services). Those who pay for premium accommodation do not get a...

RAD is short for Refundable Accommodation Deposit , and it is an alternative payment option offered by some care facilities in New Zealand. Instead of paying ongoing premium accommodation charges, you can choose to make a single up-front lump-sum payment. The key point is that this amount is fully refunded...

In order to receive subsidised residential care, you need to pass a financial means assessment. This involves an asset test. If owning your former home puts you over the Asset Threshold and your other assets are under it, you may be able to get a government funded Res­idential Care Loan...

If you are single the limit is $291,825. If you are a couple and you both need care the limit is $291,825. If you are a couple, and one of you needs care there are two threshold options: Combined assets of $159,810, not including the value of your home and...

Premium charges relate to a room with additional features of a permanent or fixed nature; commonly called premium accommodation charges. There are rules regarding these charges such as when and how you can review your tenancy. Additional services are those that are over and above the contracted service and can...

Everyone in a certified and contracted care home is required to pay for their accommodation and services. If you have little to no assets the government uses your NZ Super to pay for your care. If you have assets and/or income over the required thresholds, you are required to contribute/pay...

The Residential Care Subsidy is financial assistance that may be available for those over 65 needing residential care and who meet eligibility criteria (including health and financial criteria). It's important to note it is distinct from the Residential Support Subsidy that may be available for those under 65. The Residential...

If someone has been assessed as requiring dementia level care in New Zealand, they are responsible for paying, or contributing, towards the cost of that care. People with available funds will pay privately for this care; others will have the cost of care subsidised through government funding. For those who...