Drawing a distinction between accommodation and care is a way to begin to understand the differences between retirement villages, rest homes and other options.
Once there were rest homes and then along came lifestyle and retirement villages. Rest homes were tasked with caring for the frail and chronically ill, and the villages offered a new lifestyle choice for the fit and healthy. Never the two met.
As aged care has evolved in New Zealand, that has changed. What were once quite different models have come to represent opposite ends of a spectrum. Filling in the spaces between are such hybrid options as care apartments, care studios, care suites, serviced apartments, supported living and various rest home choices.
The terminology used by different providers varies, making it even more confusing. There are fundamental differences though between retirement villages and care homes.
A good way to get these differences clear in your mind is to draw a distinction between accommodation and care, and to also understand that an assessment determines whether you are eligible for care and the level of care you need. Different legislation also applies.
To find out more see: How are rest homes different to retirement villages?
For more information about residential care
For: an overview of residential care
For: details of all residential care facilities in the country
For: residential care VACANCIES that are updated daily and shown on a map Eldernet is the only website that has DAILY UPDATES on rest home, hospital, rest home dementia and specialist dementia hospitals (also known as psychogeriatric or occasionally called D6) in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Updated: 13 Feb 2024