‘Making Life Easier at Home’ is all about supporting older people to live the life they want! We want to empower you to use your voice and to make decisions that are right for your future. Here you’ll discover a huge range of care and support options, community groups, and service providers throughout the country that will help make life at home easier. Whether you’re still living in the family home, or are settled in a retirement village or residential care, these resources are for you.
Livingwell Disability Resource Centre
Otago’s independent hub for disability and accessibility support for older people, disabled people, and their whānau.RockPool Collective
RockPool connects you with trusted local families (and their kids) to help with everyday tasks, so you can enjoy living in your homeDream Eldercare
Dream Companions provide live-in or live-out support, blending practical care with genuine companionship at home or in your village.The Good Companion
Get help in the comfort of your own home. NationwideBrowse categories
Home help & personal care
Meal prep | Cleaning | Personal assistance | And more...
Supporting your carer
Respite care | Day programmes
Equipment & products
Mobility aids | Stair lifts | Continence | And more...
Around your home
Repairs & maintenance | Gardening | Downsizing | And more...
Housing options
Rentals | 60s + housing | Public & private housing
Recreation & transport
Exercise | Transport options | Travel
End of life
Palliative care | Funerals | Hospice | And more...
Staying healthy
Vision | Hearing | Podiatry | Therapies | And more...
Local community resources
Culture | Kaumātua programmes | Libraries | And more...
Professional services
Financial assistance | Legal matters | And more...
Industry suppliers
Industry suppliers | Recruitment & training
Let us help you find what you're looking for
What should I consider when getting help at home?
Many older people are happy living at home and just need a bit of extra support now and again – whether that means assistance around the house, getting professional support and advice, or simply connecting with like-minded people. Yet these services can be difficult to find if you don’t know where to look or if you’re not sure yet what you are looking for; in fact, sometimes you don’t know you have a problem until you find the solution. That’s where ‘Making Life Easier’ comes in.
As we all lead different lives, the support and assistance we need will vary widely. Perhaps you’re looking to meet some like-minded people in your community, join a club or group, or take up a new hobby? Or perhaps you’ve moved to a new area and want to know what services are available? Whatever support you require, you’ll find options in your region to suit.
We all need to look after our eyes, ears and feet – regardless of our age. Some of us may find we need a little extra help around the home, such as cooking and cleaning, while others may require help with their personal care. While there may be some challenges ahead as we get older, there are options to help you navigate these.
If you’re requiring home support, there are a wide range of services to choose from, including practical services and personal care. You may be eligible to receive subsidised home help (via an interRAI assessment) or you can choose to pay privately. There is a lot to consider so use our checklist to help you navigate the process – then browse home support providers in your region. You can also find loads more information about getting help at home and in your community on our Knowledge Lab.
Your questions answered
Looking for independent and impartial information to help you on your ageing journey? Looking for help but not sure where to start? The Knowledge Lab is our comprehensive resource library; dive in and find informative and practical articles and videos covering a wide range of topics, plus answers to questions you didn’t even know you had. Start browsing now.
Smartphone for Beginners - TechAble
Mixed feelings after a loved one goes 'into care'?
Giving up a caregiving role is difficult. You’ve probably invested a lot of physical and emotional energy in supporting your spouse/partner, relative or friend to remain at home for as long as possible. When the decision is made to go into a care home you may experience conflicting feelings –...
Who pays for respite care?
You can pay privately for respite care. Alternatively, you may be able to access subsidised respite services via an assessment. The main types of subsidised packages to support carers in New Zealand are: Respite Care Subsidy. This payment is equivalent to the rate paid for residential care, the cost 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...
Your options
Home and Community
Fully independent and living at home. There are many services to make life at home easier.
Retirement Village
Independent living in a purpose built property with varying levels of support.
Residential Care
The full service options for all the support and levels of care you could need.
News in the community
Want to read the latest news and events? See what's going on around NZ. This newsletter is created by contributions direct from the Eldernet community and is filled with good news and updates.
Zepter New Zealand - Mobility aids & useful products
What if your pain relief was not another pill What if your next step toward pain relief was not another pill, but simply sitting in front of a light? If you or someone you love lives with chronic pain, arthritis, stiff joints or stubborn itchy rashes, and you are looking...
Haven Care - Home help & personal care
Haven Care – support in the comfort of your home Personalised support means you or your loved one receives support tailored to fit their needs. With one‑to‑one, relationship‑based care, we offer an alternative to shared facility living. We take time to match each client with the right caregiver, considering individual...
Next Step Retirement Living - Advocacy services
"Making Informed Decisions About Your Next Step" Retirement living decisions can be complex, emotional and financially significant. With so many options, contracts and costs, it’s easy to feel unsure, especially if choices suddenly become urgent. Carmel McLaughlin from Next Step Retirement Living offers independent, personalised guidance so you can understand...
Nurse Maude Health & Mobility Shop - Mobility aids & useful products
Cubro Mobilis Walker 8inch Wheels - $309.00 This lightweight aluminium, folding walking frame comes with large 8inch(200mm) wheels to cope with uneven terrain such as grass or gravel. Standard with a bag and easy to fold for storage. Easy to adjust handbrake feature so you can be secure when sitting...