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Help to stay at home    Home care   Organising home care

How to Organise Home Care

There are four main ways home care can be organised:

	On discharge from public hospital, short-term help may be provided while you convalesce, discuss with the hospital social worker.
	Long-term care may be provided for people with ongoing care needs, organise through Needs Assessment and Service Co-ordination (NASC).
	Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) can provide home care. Arrange through your ACC case worker.
	You can make your own private arrangements with a Home Care agency. Not all agencies service privately paying clients.

Subsidised or Publicly Funded Services
A Needs Assessment is required to establish eligibility for subsidised services. You must hold a Community Service Card for help with routine housework. Assistance with personal care such as showering and dressing does not require a card.
An authorised assessor will visit and discuss with you how much help you need at home. If you share accommodation, assistance from those you live with is also considered. Assessment can be provided in public hospital by a hospital-based Needs Assessor or in the community by NASC, see contacts above.
For those receiving long-term subsidised service, spring cleaning is regarded as an extra and you are expected to pay for this yourself.
It may be possible to claim Disability Allowance to help pay for lawns and gardening. Contact your local Work and Income office or phone 0800 552 002.

Private arrangement
Most agencies offer housework and personal care, some also offer nursing and short-term relief care. For costs please contact a number of agencies in your area to establish local rates.

Points to consider when first making your enquiry

	Do they provide the services you require e.g. nursing?
	Have staff members had special training?
	Is there a cancellation fee?
	Is there an extra charge for weekend work?
	Is there a minimum time charged?
	Do you still have to pay if you go on holiday or into hospital?
	Is there a set-up charge and how do you pay?

For further Information and Assistance
If you have a complaint about a home care service or need further information, contact:

*        Your NASC co-ordinator

*        Your home care service manager

*        The New Zealand Home Health Association Inc phone   04 472 3196

*        Health and Disability Commissioner phone   0800 11 22 33

*        Advocacy Services, Health and Disability phone   0800 11 22 33

*        The funding agency e.g. District Health Board or your ACC case manager.