I’ve just turned 75 – how do I renew my NZ driver’s licence?
When you turn 75, your licence will be valid for only two to five years, and you will need to present a medical certificate each time you apply. If recommended by your doctor, you will also have to sit a 30-minute On-road Safety Test. As you will need to renew...
Do I need a medical certificate to renew a driver’s licence?
To renew your licence past your 75th birthday you will need to visit your doctor to get a 'Medical certificate for driver licence'. Tell your doctor the certificate is for your driver licence. You will have to pay for the appointment yourself. During your appointment your doctor will discuss your...
What is the Total Mobility Scheme?
The Total Mobility Scheme assists people with eligible mobility issues around New Zealand to get access to subsidised door-to-door transport. It is aimed at people with temporary or long-term disabilities who cannot use public transport, and therefore need an alternative mode of transport to live their lives normally and stay...
Does the 2023 change of government affect the health system?
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...
What can I do to increase my appetite?
There are many reasons why older people's appetite decrease; cooking for one, ill-fitting dentures, difficulty shopping, finances, and some medications are all factors that could leave them without much of an appetite. However, usually losing your appetite is a symptom of something else. If you are worried about yourself, or...
Looking for a retirement village property? Consider this
Retirement villages in New Zealand offer a wide range of accommodation options, including villas, townhouses, apartments, and studios. Remember – this is your home, so whichever you choice it has to suit your lifestyle. Here are some questions to ask any potential retirement: Your dwelling Does the size/layout of the...
Do all retirement villages have care on site?
Not all New Zealand retirement villages offer aged care on site, so it pays to do your homework before making any decisions about where to move. Use the following questions to help guide your retirement village search: Care and support What types of services are available in the village? Podiatry,...
Thinking of retirement living? Here are the legal must-dos
‘Buying’ into a retirement village is not the same as purchasing a family home, for example. You need specialist legal advice, as there can be some legal ‘fishhooks’ to get your head around. The following questions are designed to assist in your decision-making process: Legal stuff Have you received and...
What is respite care or short stay care?
Respite care, also known as short-term support or short-stay care, is a temporary care service designed to give full-time carers a break from their usual responsibilities. It also provides benefits to the person being cared for. Your carer needs time out for themselves. No matter how capable you feel they...
Find information about getting older
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...
Find information about moving into a retirement village
Considering making a move to a retirement village? Retirementvillages.co.nz is New Zealand’s most comprehensive guide to retirement villages, and showcases every retirement village in New Zealand. It hosts the country’s largest selection of properties for sale, with more than 500 properties currently listed. Search available properties across every region to...
I’m in the rainbow community but feel uncomfortable in care
Julie Watson, who runs Silver Rainbow workshops (LGBTQIA+ education for those working in aged care) 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 the place where they...
Are there rental options for older people in New Zealand?
Home ownership in New Zealand has been declining for the past 30 years, a fact that has been exacerbated more recently by rising inflation and the increased cost of living. As a result, an increasing number of older people rent. While there are a variety of rental options that may...
What are levels of care in New Zealand?
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...
Who pays for dementia care in New Zealand?
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...
What is carer support?
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...
Do I need an assessment to access respite care?
While you may pay privately for respite care, an interRAI assessment is required if you wish to access subsidised respite care in New Zealand. This assessment is conducted by trained health professionals and is usually organised through your local NASC or older person’s service. The assessment identifies the level of...
How far in advance can I book respite care?
Whether advance bookings are offered or not often depends on the availability of care home beds in your region. Where there are no or few dedicated respite care beds in a region bookings may only be able to be made when a vacancy becomes available. This makes long term planning...
Can I book respite care without advanced notice?
Some care/rest homes in New Zealand may take a respite booking at short notice. They often indicate that they offer this service in their Eldernet listing. Whether or not they can take a short-term respite booking when you need it depends on: the availability of beds (the majority of homes...
I’m a carer – do I really need a break?
No matter how strong and capable a carer is, they need regular time out to recharge their physical and mental batteries. Just like someone with a demanding job is encouraged to take regular leave to ensure they are at the top of their game when they are on the job,...
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