What type of care and services do you need?

To determine the level of care that is appropriate, you will need to get a Needs Assessment undertaken. Most often, the best place to start is by talking to your doctor who can help navigate the pathway to care services.

There are Need Assessment Services Co-ordination (NASC) agencies across New Zealand. NASC agencies work with older people and their families to help identify an individual’s specific care needs and to outline the support services available. The assessor will visit you to identify and discuss your individual health/support needs. After completing the needs assessment, they will then discuss this with you and your family/whānau to agree a specific care plan that is right for you.

For full details on how to get a needs assessment undertaken can be found here.

Which Resthome or Hospital you would prefer to live in?

Once NASC determines that you are eligible to enter a resthome facility the next step is to choose the right resthome for you.

You have the right to choose any residential care provider in New Zealand that has a DHB contract to provide you with your assessed level of care need. Promisia has a range of facilities providing residential resthome, hospital, respite, dementia, and palliative level care. For full details please go to our Care Services page.

Alternatively, you can find resthomes through Eldernet or by visiting your local Age Concern office.

How will you pay for your care?

After you have undertaken your needs assessment, you can apply to Work and Income for a financial means assessment. The purpose of a financial means assessment is to determine whether you qualify for public funding support.

We recommend you apply for a financial means assessment as soon as possible, even if you cannot supply all the necessary documentation immediately, as you will be required to pay for residential care personally, until it has been confirmed by Work and Income that you qualify for public funding support.

There are a range of different support levels dependent on your financial means assessment. This can include full or partial subsidy. Support can be by way of subsidy or in certain circumstances by way of a Residential Care Loan. If you do not qualify for public funding support you will be required to pay for the cost of residential care personally.

More information on Residential Care funding support can be found here.

What determines whether I can move into a resthome?

People move into resthomes for a range of different individual reasons however, the common theme is that they want or need support to take care of themselves. Whatever your reason, in order to move into residential care, you will need to get a needs assessment undertaken to help determine your specific care requirements. A list of Needs Assessment Co-ordination Services available can be found here.

Where can I find out about services available for older people?

When choosing an Aged Residential Care Facility there are many things to consider and we believe in being as upfront and honest as possible to help you make the right decision about you or your loved one's care.

There are all the obvious things to check out when looking for a facility, like room size, staffing levels, smell, décor to name a few. We welcome you to come and visit any of our facilities. We hope that you will find our genuine care environment and facilities meet your expectations.

Details of all our facilities can be found here. If you want to consider other options you can get a list of resthomes in your area from the District Health Board, your local Age Concern, or the Needs Assessment and Service Coordination agency. Eldernet is also an excellent resource when looking at which villages are available in your area.

What government funding is available to help with the costs?

Once you have been assessed as 'needing care' the person who carried out your needs assessment will explain how you can apply for the Residential Care Subsidy.

Further details about the Residential Care Subsidy and to find out if you might qualify can be found here. Alternatively you can contact Work and Income Residential Subsidy Unit via their website or on their helpline: 0800 999 727.

How are the quality of residential care facilities monitored?

Resthomes must meet the Ngā Paerewa Health and Disability Services Standard NZS 8134:2021, and be certified to operate by the Ministry of Health. They must also meet the requirements set in their contract with their regional Te Whatu Ora (District Health Board). The Ministry of Health arranges both regular and ‘spot’ audits of all rest homes to ensure they are continuing to meet both the Standard, and the Te Whatu Ora contract requirements.

You can find copies of the audit reports on the MOH website here:

Ranfurly Manor

Nelson Street

Eileen Mary

Aldwins House

Do ensuites, access to courtyards, larger rooms and great views cost extra? What is this cost and who pays?

This is called an accommodation supplement fee and costs between $15 and $75 per night depending on the size and amenities available in a room. This additional fee is paid privately by the resident and is not Government funded. All Promisia facilities offer a standard room option at no additional fee.

I want to make a complaint, who can I talk to?

You should first talk to the relevant Facility Manager or to the General Manager. Contact details can be found here . If we are unable to resolve your complaint there are a range of additional avenues to discuss your concerns on the Ministry of Health Website.

Where care I find out about services available for older people?

There is a really useful link on the Ministry of Health website which is available here.