Search Results for "dementia"

Dual use beds or rooms are also known as swing beds. They allow for various levels of care e.g., rest home or hospital, to be provided in the same room. For those concerned about having to move rooms if their needs change, a dual use/swing bed room may be the...

The person responsible for coordinating your services will give you your Assessment Certificate and if relevant they will give you information on the Residential Care Subsidy, which you can find information on here. Make sure you know what type/level of care you require e.g. rest home, dementia, hospital, specialist hospital....

While it is true that some village residents may need to receive care in an alternative facility, it is by no means the most likely scenario. In fact, only 12.8% of Kiwis living in villages end up being moved to a different facility to receive care and more than half...

There have been a number of significant health system changes in New Zealand Aotearoa since 2022 (e.g., the establishment of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and related agencies by the then Labour Government). The General Election of late 2023 saw a National, ACT and New Zealand Coalition Government...

There is a lot to think about (and sometimes not much time) to decide which care home is right for you. Use this list to spark ideas and questions. ROOMS Residents’ rooms should be clean, comfortable and have enough floor space. Consider how practical a full ensuite might be. It...

We pride ourselves on being the most trusted online resource for older people and those supporting them to find the information they need to navigate the ageing journey. Yet, we also understand that not everyone wants to, or is able to, access the internet. Which is why The Eldernet Group...

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...

Remember, a care home (rest home) is your home; just like any home you live in, you can choose to move if you wish. The first step is to contact your local Needs Assessment Coordination Service (NASC) to let them know you want to transfer. They may do another interRAI...

This payment is designed to support full-time carers. It can provide reimbursement of some of the costs of engaging a support person to care and support you or allow for purchases which will support your carer in their role. A full-time carer is defined as someone who provides more than...

In March 2024, Carolyn Cooper, the Aged Care Commissioner, released a report titled “Amplifying the voices of older people across Aotearoa New Zealand”. It contains 20 recommendations to improve services and care for older people in Aotearoa. So, why is this report important and how does it affect every day...

Enduring Powers of Attorney (known as an EPA or EPOA) are legal documents that allow you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions for you if you are no longer able to do so yourself. Some people set an EPA up when they buy their first home or start...

10KM RULE: This rule deals with the situation where an intending resident’s first choice of care home only has a room available that attracts extra fees and the person doesn’t want to, or cannot afford to, pay those fees. ACC: Accident Compensation Corporation. ADVANCED CARE PLAN & ADVANCED DIRECTIVES :...

If someone has talked to you and you or they are concerned about their emotional or mental wellbeing, take the situation seriously and advise the person to seek professional assistance. Offer to take them or accompany them to their first appointment. Most older people will talk to a doctor about...

Research has debunked the common misconception that as we age, our brains lose the ability to learn and retain new information; in fact, older adults can continue to learn and develop new skills throughout their lives. A study conducted by the University of California found that the brains of older...

In short – it will depend. There are many factors to consider, such as, existing resident mix, staffing capabilities (especially nurses), safe staffing levels, current occupancy, type, and location of available rooms…the list goes on. Care homes, rest homes, dementia units, respite and carer support providers will likely be taking...

From 7 November 2021, those over 18 who experience unbearable suffering from a terminal illness can legally ask for medical assistance to end their lives (under the End of Life Choice 2019 Act ). The legislation sets tight controls about who can access the option but the crucial term here...

It’s important to understand, in the first instance, that some people are happy to live the way they do. They may not have lived this way in the past, however some are happy to make a trade off with the standard of living they have now, with their ability to...

As we get older, we may start feeling like we’re not as mentally sharp as we were 10 – or even 5 – years ago. While this can be frustrating, it’s unfortunately a normal part of ageing. In fact, we all experience changes to brain functionality as early as our...

There are many schools of thought on this subject. We offer two for your consideration. For the majority of us we experience some cognitive decline as we get older and surprisingly this often starts in our 20s. A smaller number of people appear to have some protective features that prevent...