My Parent needs care. What do I do?

Media release from NZ Aged Care Association

My Parent needs care. What do I do? New Website Answers This Difficult Question

Finding out about the aged care system for an ageing parent or relative is an extremely stressful time for most people. But it doesn’t need to be.

A new website launched by the New Zealand Aged Care Association (NZACA) today is designed to remove this anxiety.

“More and more people make calls to the Association asking the same questions: how do I apply for an assessment for Mum? Who pays for the care? Does she have to sell the house? What questions will the DHB ask? What are my rights?”

To meet this need, the NZACA produced the www.findaresthome.co.nz website, which provides straight-forward answers to common questions that everyone has about rest home, hospital and dementia care.

“This is the only website in New Zealand that collates all of the most important information around aged residential care into one place to help people get the best quality care for their ageing relatives. Before we did this people were searching for hours on multiple websites, which was frustrating and inefficient” says NZACA Chief Executive Martin Taylor.

 The website provides essential information about how to apply for a care assessment, what questions the assessors will ask, who to engage with at your District Health Board, how much your parent would be expected to pay, the different types of care available, right through to arranging enduring powers of attorney.

The website also includes a geographical search function so users can find the nearest aged care facility. A description of each rest home is included showing the services they offer, contact information, the number of rooms and their vacancies.

“It is completely understandable that most people are confused about how to go about putting their loved ones into care, because the decision is an emotional one.  findaresthome.co.nz reduces the emotional stress by providing the right information for people to make the right decisions,” Mr Taylor says.

Mr Taylor said the Association will continually update and improve the site.

The website can be accessed at www.findaresthome.co.nz.

For more information contact Martin Taylor, CEO, NZACA

ENDS

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