Ōtau Ridge Care

If you or a loved one needs care, a ‘needs assessment’ can guide you in understanding your options and finding the right type of care for you. Your GP can easily refer you for a needs assessment, or you can reach out directly to the local Health NZ Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) team.

Find a Needs Assessor (NASC).

A needs assessor will help determine the right level of care for you from the following options:

Rest home level care
For those who can no longer live independently and need round-the-clock support from trained caregivers and registered nurses, with regular visits from a GP or Nurse Practitioner.

Hospital level care
For individuals with more complex medical or mobility needs. This level also includes palliative care services.

Palliative care is a true test of a care home, and at Metlifecare, where we put people first, it is our honour and privilege to support residents and their families through this phase of life.

Secure dementia care
Our specialist care team assists residents and their families with the complexities of living with dementia. We provide a balance of freedom and security to keep residents safe while offering the support they need.

Respite care
Temporary care available for those who need extra support to recover from illness or surgery.

Daily care fee
The amount every resident is required to pay for aged residential care services is set by Health New Zealand, and the amount is the same for all residential care facilities within the specific area.

The Daily Care Fee covers accommodation in a standard room and includes key services such as: all meals, laundry, housekeeping, activities, visits from Metlifecare’s GP or nurse practitioner, certain Pharmac-funded prescribed medications, and assistance with transport to some health service appointments.

Our Nurse Manager can provide more detailed information on any additional items included in this fee.

Residential care subsidy
Some residents may qualify for a Residential Care Subsidy to help cover some or all of the daily care fee in a standard room. Hospital and dementia care have a higher Daily Care Fee, but provided Health NZ criteria are met, a top up subsidy is provided to cover the difference.

Residents receiving the Residential Care Subsidy will redirect most of their Superannuation payment toward the cost of care. If care is paid for privately, Superannuation payments continue as usual.

Premium accommodation costs
Most Metlifecare care homes offer a higher level of accommodation than a standard room funded by the Daily Care Fee. Additional premium room features like ensuite bathrooms, fitted wardrobes, larger rooms or outdoor balconies incur an additional cost. The additional cost of premium accommodation is not subsidised, so must be paid for by private means.

These premium accommodation costs are charged daily as a Premium Accommodation Charge (PAC).

Care suites
In selected villages, Metlifecare offers premium accommodation in our care suites, available under an Occupation Right Agreement (ORA). Each care suite features a full ensuite bathroom and a kitchenette, with many also boasting a private balcony or patio.

Our spacious care suites are designed for comfort and flexibility. Some are large enough to accommodate couples, allowing you to receive care together even if one of you requires hospital-level care. With the ability to provide both rest home and hospital-level care, there's no need to move as your care needs evolve. Our care suites offer peace of mind, privacy, and a true sense of home.

If you’re transferring from a Metlifecare apartment or villa, you may be able to use the equity in your unit to fund the purchase of a care suite.

For more information, please speak with our Nurse Managers. They’ll be happy to assist you in exploring this option further.

Create an action plan
After your needs assessment, the Needs Assessment and Service Coordination Agency (NASC) will help you create a personalised action plan. They will also provide a list of local care homes that offer the level of care you require.

Explore subsidy entitlements
NASC will also be able to assist you in checking your eligibility for subsidies to help cover your care costs. Additional information can be found on the Work and Income website here.

Find the perfect care home
Many of our Metlifecare villages offer a continuum of care. Choose a village and care home that best suits your personality and lifestyle, making sure it feels just like home.

Sign an admission agreement
Your admission agreement outlines what the care home will provide and your responsibilities. It includes:

• The cost of your care
• Payment details
• Services included in your weekly payment
• Any additional costs (e.g., premium room rates)

Move in
Once you're satisfied with your care options and costs, Metlifecare will assist you in preparing for the move. We can arrange another visit for you and your family to help with the transition. We'll ensure your room is set up with your favourite items, ready for you to settle in.

On move-in day, we'll be there to greet you and help make it feel just like home. We'll discuss your preferences and create a personalised care plan with you. Our goal is to help you settle in quickly so you can continue to enjoy the things you love.

One of the standout benefits of our care suites is the peace of mind they offer. Should your needs increase from rest home care to hospital-level or palliative care, you can remain comfortably in your care suite. This means you'll receive the additional support you need without having to move, ensuring comfort and stability during a vulnerable time.

When you enter into an Occupation Right Agreement for a care suite, you pay a Net Management Fee on exit, rather than being invoiced monthly for a daily Premium Accommodation Charge (PAC).

For example, the Net Management Fee for a resident occupying a $295,000 care suite over three years, is equivalent to paying a Premium Accommodation Charge of approximately $80.82 per day.

A key benefit of an ORA is that the Net Management Fee is capped at 30% of the Capital Sum. This cap provides certainty about how much will be repaid from the care suite when you leave, offering financial peace of mind.

Residents who purchase a care suite also take comfort in knowing that they have a right to occupy their suite (compared with residents who may be moved at short notice if they are paying a daily Premium Accommodation Charge).

Choosing a care suite not only ensures financial predictability but also offers a secure and lasting home environment.

We understand that sometimes the need to move into care arises quickly. If you require time to sell your house, we can extend the Settlement Date, allowing you to move in early. However, you'll need to sign both the Occupation Right Agreement (ORA) and the Admission Agreement before moving into your care suite.

If the settlement is not completed by the agreed Settlement Date, you may be required to pay Premium Room Charges at the rate specified in the Admission Agreement until the ORA is settled. This flexibility ensures you can transition smoothly into your new home without unnecessary stress.

Some of our care suites are large enough to accommodate couples. This means couples who are assessed as requiring residential care at rest home or hospital-level may remain together even if one of them requires a higher level of care. Our care suites are designed to provide all the comforts of home, ensuring that couples can remain close and support each other while receiving the care they need.

We understand that sometimes the need for care arises unexpectedly and requires quick action. At Metlifecare, we offer flexible funding options to help you transition smoothly into a care suite. If you have insufficient funds to settle the full amount upon transfer, you may be able to use the equity from your villa or apartment to finance the care suite purchase. This means that as a Metlifecare resident, you can always afford a care suite when moving from an independent living unit within our village.

One of the biggest worries retirees have is whether a care bed will be available when it’s needed. Unfortunately, there is a well-documented shortage of care beds in New Zealand and, because care beds are allocated according to need and demand is difficult to predict, we can’t always guarantee that a care bed will be available straight away. Metlifecare is proactively developing more care homes to extend our offering and we encourage you to contact us about your needs as early as possible. We’ll do our very best to help.