To move into aged care, you are required to complete a Needs Assessment.  Your local GP will be able to assist you by referring you to start this process or you can make contact with your local Needs Assessment and Care Coordination Centre via Te Whatu Ora.  Visit:  www.tewhatuora.govt.nz for more information.

As part of the Needs Assessment and Care Coordination Service, you will be asked to complete a financial means assessment of assets and income.  This is to determine whether you are eligible for residential aged care subsidies.  Please note that if a full subsidy is granted, the new resident will be liable for the cost of the NZ Superannuation portion of their care from the day they enter our care home until the subsidy is granted.  Back dating by the Health New Zealand can only occur for a short period of time.

These prices are set by the government and are location-based.  In our Admission Agreement we list the prices of care in our respective area.  If you would like to see these, please talk to one of our home managers or discuss with the Needs Assessment and Care Coordination Centre during your Needs Assessment process.

We highly recommend residents having an EPOA as there may come a time when a resident is unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves.  We suggest a trusted person becomes appointed as the EPOA to act on the resident’s behalf on matters surrounding how they would prefer their life and property are handled.

Our receptions are open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, with the exception of Resthaven Village which closes at 4.30pm.

Our doors are locked after this time, but we welcome visitors after hours.  If you ring the bell at the main entrance, one of our staff will be able to assist you.

We encourage you to retain your own GP to provide your medical care and they are able to visit you at the care home.

We work with a local pharmacy in Invercargill and Gore who supply our residents’ medication.  If the cost of your medication is not fully subsidised, you will receive a personal monthly invoice.  All medication is received in individual packages to ensure safe and reliable dispensing.

Our priority is to provide individualised personal care to meet our residents’ specific needs.  Depending on the level of care, our homes generally have one staff member to every 4-6 residents in our hospital level care.  Please note, this may fluctuate at times.

We would like you feel at home with us and encourage you to bring your own pieces of small furniture, painting/art and personal belongings.

All electrical appliances must have an electrical safety check on admission and whenever any new items are brought into the home.  These also need to be tested annually to ensure they do not become faulty.  Your home will organise this annually at your expense.

We hold happy hours as part of our quality of life programme where you are welcome to enjoy a beverage if you choose.  Enliven is a non-smoking environment, however we do have designated areas.  If you wish to smoke, please consult with your home manager.

It is important all of your clothing comes named with sewn-on labels or written with laundry pen.  We will launder all of your personal clothing, however for woollens and delicate items, we prefer you to arrange for your family to wash these.  If you wish to launder these items through us, they are at your own risk.

Your family and friends are welcome to join you for meals at a small cost.  We ask that you arrange this with staff so they can be accommodating and provide you with meal prices.  There is a family room on site that offers complimentary tea and coffee should they wish to visit you over morning or afternoon tea.

Animals hold a special place for many people and we encourage residents to enjoy the company of animals.  Your family and friends are able to bring animals into the home.  Please discuss this with your home manager first though.

We suggest you keep your money and valuables in a safe place.  Ideally, all money should be kept in the resident funds at reception and valuables locked away or most precious valuable in the safe keeping of family and friends.  We would also suggest engraving dentures to minimise any possible loss.

In the first instance we will contact your nominated first contact you agreed to during your admission.

Yes, we encourage you to continue living a fulfilling life and get out and about when you can.  If you are away for any length of time, can you please advise the home manager and in case of an emergency, write your absence in the resident booklet.

It is up to you to pay for your own hospital appointments, however depending on your circumstances, we can arrange an ambulance or a staff escort for you.

This will depend on each care home, however in general as your needs change, it is likely you will need to change your room to ensure you have more specialised, adequate care available.

Yes, you can, but this is classified as a premium charge and will depend on your care home’s room availability.  Check this option with your home manager.

We regularly have these services provided at the care homes at your own expense.  This can be arranged through staff at reception.

We work closely with Driving Miss Daisy who are able to assist with transport to appointments.  Alternatively, we can arrange taxi services for you.

This can be arranged through the home managers.  These additional services are at your own cost.  For the full list of additional services, please refer to the admission agreement.

On admission you will be asked if you have any special dietary requirements so that we can tailor your meals to suit.  We make every effort to cater to residents individual needs, meaning meals can have soft, minced or pureed alternatives, diabetic options or cater to allergies and other intolerances.