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Choosing the Right Rest Home
It is important that you make an informed choice when deciding upon a rest home for yourself or your loved one. The Consumers Institute has designed a comprehensive Rest Home Checklist to help you identify the questions to ask.
We recommend that you use the Institute’s checklist, however, the following are a summary of the type of questions you should be considering when making your choice.
What questions should I ask?
Some of the main questions you should ask are:
- Do the residents seem happy and well cared for?
- Do the staff appear to be friendly and responsive to residents? How many staff are on duty? What are their qualifications?
- Does the rest home have effective fire safety and other safety procedures? Is it secure from potential intruders?
- What type of medical and dental care is given? Is a doctor on call at all times?
- Are the rooms comfortable? What facilities are provided in each room?
- What type of food is served? Is there a choice of food?
- What type of activities are available for residents?
- How much are the fees and what do these fees include?
- Is the rest home certified by Ministry of Health?
- Is the rest home a participant in the subsidy scheme run by Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ)? Rest homes in this scheme must meet certain conditions.
What are my rights as a rest home resident?
Once you have chosen a home, you should be aware of your rights as a resident and ensure that they are being met at all times.
These include the right:
- to medical advice and treatment
- to the confidentiality of your personal records
- to manage your own financial affairs
- to have your personal requirements met
- to have visitors
- to participate in community activities and events
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