Residential care
Financial means assessment - income & asset testing
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...
Retirement villages
What is an ORA?
Buying into a retirement village works differently to purchasing a regular house. In most villages, you don't actually 'own' the unit or the land it's on, as you would in a traditional property purchase. Instead, the amount you pay upfront is called your Capital Contribution , which gives you the...
Retirement villages
What is a serviced apartment?
A serviced apartment is a common retirement village option which provides certain services to people who are paying privately for these services. Commonly these people are reasonably independent. Services range from meals and cleaning services to, in some cases, high-end services such as a personal chef and chauffeur. High levels...
Residential care
Is a rest home, care home, and residential care the same?
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...
Home & community
Making your own housing decisions
My family want me to move as they think I can’t manage in this house anymore. I appreciate their concerns but don’t necessarily agree with all of them. I’ve got a lot of friends along the street, and I love it here. What can I do? Take a piece of...
Equipment & technology
Am I eligible for a medical alarm?
In New Zealand, there is a cost to rent and monitor a medical alarm and the weekly charge to monitor a medical alarm varies between suppliers. Provided you are eligible for the special Disability Allowance the cost of renting a medical alarm may be fully funded. The medical alarm has...
Residential care
What is a care suite?
A care suite (sometimes known as a care apartment) is generally a retirement village offering that provides the same level of care you'd receive in a care home, with the added comfort of having your own private space. They are a quite complex accommodation and financial offering, and it can...