Southern District Health Board

DHBs are responsible for funding long-term age related residential care services to all people who meet the access criteria.

This is achieved by Southern DHB contracting with, and funding, age related residential care providers to deliver that care for people who meet the access criteria. Southern DHB also funds age related residential care providers to deliver a number of short-term services, including respite care (whilst a person rehabilitates from an acute episode) and carer support (to provide 'time out' for the family or caregivers).

Note that the establishment and management of age related residential care facilities is the responsibility of the facility operators (usually commercial or not-for-profit organisations) and not the DHB.

There are four main levels of age related residential care: Rest Home Care, Long Term Hospital Level Care, Dementia Care, Psychogeriatric Care.  Each level of care is quite distinct, with significant differences in the supervision and services delivered, and the funding that each service level attracts.   The level of age related residential care an individual receives is dependent on the outcome of an assessment by the Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) service.

Needs Assessment and Income and Asset Testing Process:

A person in age related residential care may be fully subsidised, partially subsidised, or non-subsidised. The level of subsidy and personal contribution is determined by a standardised income and asset test process.

Every subsidised person of an age related residential care facility must undergo an assessment to determine the level of care required. This is undertaken by the DHB Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) service.  Although age related residential care facilities may accept any potential person into their facility; they will not be eligible for any subsidy unless assessed by the Needs Assessment Service Coordination service.  

When an assessment establishes that an elderly person is in need of long-term care in a rest-home or hospital, they can then apply for government funding through the Residential Care Subsidy. Not everyone is entitled to this funding under the Social Security Act 1964. To qualify for the Residential Care Subsidy, a person must satisfy the eligibility criteria. The Ministry of Social Development (through Work and Income New Zealand) then carries out a financial means assessment that considers the person's assets and income, and any gifting that has occurred. For further information regarding the income and asset testing process and the related financial thresholds, please visit the Ministry of Health's webpages on Health of Older People.  

Note that a person may choose not to have the income and asset test, and to instead be responsible for all costs associated with their care (ie private paying client).

Choosing a Facility:

DHBs can only contract with rest homes or hospitals that have achieved Certification under the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 and comply with the Health and Disability Sector Standards 2001.  

There are a variety of facilities available across the region, with some offering a single type of service e.g. rest home level care, to others that offer all four service specifications (rest home, long term hospital care, dementia care, psycho geriatric care). A variety of providers  operate age related residential care facilities, with the sector dominated by both commercial and not for profit organisations.

All people who have been assessed as requiring age related residential care have the option of accepting a vacancy in any appropriate facility within their DHB boundary.  If a person wishes to enter a facility within another DHB boundary, they must be assessed by the relevant DHB Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC) service. Note that access criteria may differ between DHBs.

There will be cases where a resident will not be able to move into their preferred choice of facility. If a bed is not available, they have the option of entering another facility in the interim until an appropriate room becomes available in their preferred facility.

Further Information:

For helpful information about what you need to know when considering long term residential care, please visit the Ministry of Health webpage on long-term residential care.

You can also talk to a staff member from the Needs Assessment and Service Coordination team at Southland DHB,  Telephone: +64 3 214 5725 or Freephone: 0800 223 225 (for callers outside of Invercargill).

Concerns or Complaints:

If you have concerns or a complaint regarding an age related residential care facility, talk with the facility operater directly in the first instance, where possible, to resolve the concern. If you have concerns regarding quality of care, you can contact the Health and Disability Commissioner via the HDC website, email or telephone 0800 11 22 33.