Can't find a standard rest home room? The 10km rule helps

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 receiving a residential care subsidy (RCS) you may still have funds that fall within the asset threshold. You might wish to use these to pay any premium charges at your preferred home;
• if there isn’t a home with a vacancy within 10 Kilometres, your home of choice must accept you and not charge extra fees. They may move you to a standard room when it becomes available giving three days notice.

Once resident if a standard room becomes available in another home you cannot be required to move there.

If you have a disagreement with a care home over the 10km rule, contact Te Whatu Ora | Health NZ, as this rule is part of their contract with the care home.

Should you later decide you can not continue to pay any additional changes then further rules concerning the reviewing of your tenancy then apply.