Your Admission Agreement and care plan

When you move into a rest home or hospital you sign an Admission Agreement. This contract has information about your rights and responsibilities. Your Care Plan is the other important document that’s prepared for you.

Your Admission Agreement

This is a legal contract between you and the residential care provider. It explains what your and their responsibilities are and what they will do for you.

The agreement includes the Code of Residents’ Rights. This code gives the rules for your residential care facility and explains how to complain about your care or other matters.

Code of Residents’ Rights — Retirement Commission Te Ara Ahunga Ora

Check the costs of residential care and see if you qualify for financial help from the government.

Paying for residential care

What should be in the Admission Agreement

Your Admission Agreement should include information about:

  • the cost of your care
  • who is paying and how payments are made
  • what services are included in your weekly payment and what you must pay extra for
  • what happens if your personal belongings are damaged or lost
  • arrangements for your safety and security — money and valuables are your responsibility
  • the notice you must give if you want to transfer or leave
  • staffing arrangements in the rest home.

Make a complaint about residential care

Legal advice and setting up an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)

You may want to get legal or independent advice:

  • before signing your Admission Agreement
  • to set up an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) — your rest home or hospital may ask you to do this before you move in.

An EPA is a legal document that gives someone else the power to make decisions for you if you’re unable to.

There are two types of EPA:

If you move in suddenly

You may not have time to sign the Admission Agreement before you move in. It’s okay to sign it on the day you move in. The person who has your EPA can sign it on your behalf — within 10 working days of you moving in.

If your need is urgent, you will have to move to a care facility that has a suitable room available and can provide the care you need — even if the rest home or hospital is not your first choice.

Urgent admission to a residential care facility

Your care plan

This is an outline of your health and care needs and what will be done for you. It’s based on your needs assessment and is used to make sure you get the care you need. It includes:

  • your medical and treatment needs
  • information about your diet
  • when and how your family or whānau should be contacted if your health changes
  • other care that is important to your wellbeing, including cultural and spiritual needs.

Your care plan is finalised and written up by a registered nurse within 3 weeks of you moving into the care facility.

Reviewing your care plan

This plan is usually reviewed every 6 months — or sooner, if your needs change. You, the rest home staff and those close to you will review your care plan. A registered nurse updates the plan after the review.

If you need a higher level of care

If you need more care, the rest home will ask the local Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination (NASC) team to reassess your needs. If your rest home does not provide the level of care that you now need, you will have to transfer to a different care facility.

Transfer to a different residential care facility

Contact Seniorline

Seniorline provides information for older people about residential care, community services and how to get help at home.

Utility links and page information

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