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11 steps to moving to residential care

  1. 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.
  2. Make sure you know what type/level of care you require e.g. rest home, dementia, hospital, specialist hospital. Find out about levels of care in New Zealand here.
  3. Discuss your options with those closest to you and seek any clarification from the person responsible for coordinating your services.
  4. Check Eldernet Residential Care. It shows all facilities in New Zealand and where there are current vacancies.
  5. Shortlist possible homes/hospitals that provide your level of care. It is your responsibility to select your home. (See checklist).
  6. Visit the facilities on your shortlist.
  7. Ask for a copy of each facility’s Admission Agreement. Make sure you ask about any additional charges and that you have written information about any of these. Go away and read these documents (so that you have plenty of time to make an informed choice).
  8. You can arrange to have a ‘trial’ of the home/hospital, so arrange this if you plan to do this (it’s often a good way to find out how well you and the facility ‘fit’). You must pay for a trial yourself; it is not subsidised.
  9. Decide on your preferred home.
  10. Talk with the admissions person, negotiate any issues and sign the Admission Agreement.
  11. You are responsible for paying for or contributing towards your care. Make arrangements for this. Apply for a Residential Care Subsidy or Loan if appropriate.  Find out more about the Residential Care Subsidy or Loan here

Find: Residential care facilities & VACANCIES

Eldernet is NZ's only daily (Mon-Fri) updated directory of rest home, dementia, hospital and psychogeriatric care facilities.

Updated: 7 Nov 2024
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