result - agedcarefunding.org

YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR LONG TERM SUPPORT

What this means:

From the answers you’ve given, it looks like you may qualify for long-term publicly funded support at home. Your responses suggest that day-to-day tasks are getting harder because of your health, mobility or memory, and that extra help could make a real difference to your safety and independence.

Long-term support is usually arranged through a Needs Assessment. This is how Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora works out what kind of help you might be able to receive. A trained Needs Assessor will talk with you (and your family or whānau if you’d like) about:

Personal care – showering, dressing, continence and medications
Mobility and balance – falls, unsteadiness or problems getting around
Daily living – shopping, meal preparation, cleaning and laundry
Support – how much help you get from family, friends or neighbours

You don’t need a Community Services Card (CSC) to qualify for personal-care support. A CSC mainly helps with funding for domestic help such as housework or shopping support.

Because your answers show needs like personal care, mobility or memory changes, limited informal support and/or carer stress, you sit in a group that is very likely to benefit from a Needs Assessment.

Next steps

The best next step is to:

Talk to your GP (family doctor) and ask for a referral for a Needs Assessment.
Show or print these results and take them to your appointment.
Explain any falls, near-falls, struggles with showering, toileting or dressing, and whether you live alone.

Your GP will send a referral to the Needs Assessment team in your region. While the assessment is being arranged, you can also explore private support options if you need help sooner.

You’ll find contact details for:

GPs and Needs Assessment services in your region
Private home-care providers
ACC and carer support services in the contact section below.

It’s likely you are eligible for short-term support after illness or hospital care

Your answers suggest that your needs are linked to a recent illness, injury or hospital stay, or a sudden change in health. This means you are likely to fit a short-term clinical pathway, often called Community Care Coordination (CCC) or a similar service in your region.

Short-term support is focused on helping you recover safely at home. Depending on your situation, CCC or related services may arrange:

Community nursing
Physiotherapy or occupational therapy (OT)
Falls-prevention or rehabilitation programmes
Short-term help at home while you recover

This is different from a long-term Needs Assessment. CCC support is usually:

Time-limited
Focused on recovery and clinical needs
Linked closely to your hospital team or community health services

If, after this period, your needs are still high, your GP or CCC team may suggest a long-term Needs Assessment as well.

Next steps

What to do now:

Talk to your GP or the hospital team that has been caring for you.
Ask specifically about a CCC referral (or equivalent short-term support service in your area).
If you left hospital without a care package or home-support plan, let your GP know – a GP referral may be required to get CCC involved.
Show or print these results and explain clearly where you are struggling at home (e.g. falls, fatigue, pain, transfers, showering).

While you wait, you can still arrange private help if needed.

You’ll find contact details below for:

Community Care Coordination in Bay of Plenty
Older persons’ services and referral centres in Canterbury
Private home-care providers
ACC

You may qualify for funding

Your answers show that there are some support needs, but the overall picture is mixed. For example, you may have:

Mild mobility issues
One or two domestic tasks you struggle with
Good support from family or whānau
A previous assessment more than 6 months ago
Several “Not sure” answers around memory or decline

In cases like this, eligibility is not clear-cut and depends on clinical judgement. A health professional who knows your medical history is best placed to decide whether:

A long-term Needs Assessment (NASC)
Short-term CCC support
Or community/private support are the most appropriate next step.

You are likely to be eligible for Carer Support.
Carer Support is available for full-time carers — people who provide more than 4 hours a day of unpaid care, for example the spouse of someone who:

has dementia
has a terminal illness
has an age-related disability (usually lasting more than 6 months)
has an ongoing health or mental health condition.

The number of hours or days Carer Support is funded for depends on needs of the person being cared for.

To access Carer Support you must have a needs assessment by a Health New Zealand Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC) service. You can contact your healthcare provider, key mental healthcare provider or specialist to ask for support with your assessment.

Next steps

The most helpful thing you can do now is:

Book an appointment with your GP.
Bring or email a copy of these results before the appointment.

Your GP can:

Ask more detailed questions about how you are managing showering, dressing, walking, meals and medications
Consider whether there has been a recent decline
Decide whether to make a referral for a Needs Assessment or CCC, or suggest other community/private supports for now
Help you plan ahead if your needs are likely to increase over time

Remember: needs can change. Even if you don’t clearly meet the criteria today, that may change in the future.

Sorry, you are not currently eligible for publicly funded home support

Based on your answers, you do not meet the current criteria for publicly funded home support.

This is often the case when:

You are mostly independent with personal care (showering, dressing, toileting, medications)
You mainly need companionship or overnight supervision
You only need domestic help and don’t have a Community Services Card
You live in a serviced unit or serviced apartment
You are already receiving DHB-funded services that would need reassessment first
There is no clinically verified need at this time
Hospice or palliative care is already involved

Publicly funded home support is prioritised for people whose health, mobility or memory problems have a significant impact on daily life and safety, and who have limited informal support.

However, eligibility can change. If your needs increase, or your support situation changes, a new referral may be appropriate in the future.

has dementia
has a terminal illness
has an age-related disability (usually lasting more than 6 months)
has an ongoing health or mental health condition.

The number of hours or days Carer Support is funded for depends on needs of the person being cared for. In the meantime you should be eligible for Carer Support.

Next steps

You still have options:

Talk to your GP if you are unsure about this result or feel your needs were under-reported.
Ask what signs or changes (for example, falls, decline in mobility, new memory issues) would make a Needs Assessment more suitable in the future.
Ask about other supports – community groups, social services, counselling, respite options, equipment or falls-prevention programmes.

Private support is also available if you would like more help day to day.

You’ll find contact details below for:

Private home-care providers
Hospice and palliative services
Carer support organisations
ACC

Your insurance may cover some in-home support

Your answers suggest that the person has an insurance policy that specifically mentions home help, personal care or in-home support. This means you may be able to access funded support through your insurer, completely separate from public funding.

Every policy is different. The number of hours, type of support and length of time covered will depend on the exact wording of the policy and the type of claim (e.g. illness, surgery, injury, disability).

Insurance cover may help with:

Short-term home support after illness, surgery or injury
Assistance with daily living tasks
Personal care or home-help services arranged through approved providers

Next steps

Contact your insurer (or your insurance adviser) and ask them to confirm what is included for:
- “Home help”
- “Personal care”
- “In-home support” or similar terms
Ask whether they require a GP letter, medical report or other documentation.
Keep in mind: you can still request a free Needs Assessment through the public system. Insurance cover does not stop you exploring public funding as well.

If insurance only provides limited hours, you may still be eligible for:

Public funding (if criteria are met)
Private top-up care arranged directly with a provider

Notes

Insurers often fund temporary care (for a few weeks or months), but some policies may allow longer-term support.
Cover is usually linked to a specific event (such as surgery, illness or injury).
Even if your insurer pays for some support, you may still benefit from talking to your GP about long-term needs, safety and planning ahead.

You may have insurance cover — please check your policy

Some insurance plans in New Zealand include home-support benefits, but your answers suggest it is not yet clear whether your policy does.

If your policy does include home help, personal care or in-home support, you may be able to access funded care through your insurer. This sits separately from any public funding.

Next steps

Find your policy documents and look for terms such as:
- “Home support”
- “Home help”
- “Daily living assistance”
- “Post-hospital support”
- “Temporary care assistance” or similar.
If you can’t find clear wording, contact your insurer or insurance adviser and ask them directly whether your plan covers any in-home support.
You can still speak to your GP about a public Needs Assessment or CCC referral if you think your needs are significant enough for public funding.

Notes

Private insurance and public funding are separate systems. You may qualify for one, both, or neither, depending on your situation.
Even if insurance does provide cover, it is often time-limited, so it’s useful to talk to your GP about longer-term planning as well.
If insurance declines or offers only very limited hours, your GP can help you understand whether a public referral (NASC or CCC) is appropriate.

Carer stress: If a family member or carer is feeling stressed or burnt out, you may also be eligible for Respite Care or the Carer Support Subsidy. Make sure this is mentioned in any referral.

ACC: If your mobility problems or decline started after an injury or accident, some support or equipment may be funded by ACC as well as – or instead of – long-term disability/aged-care funding.

Safety risk: Home access issues such as steep or broken steps, unsafe stairs or very difficult access can increase the urgency of a Needs Assessment.

DHB / Te Whatu Ora services: If you already receive other DHB-funded or Te Whatu Ora services, new support cannot always be duplicated. The hospital or community team may need to reassess your current package.

Residential care:

Serviced apartments/serviced units → generally not eligible for publicly funded home support.
Standard rest home rooms → eligibility can vary; speak with your GP or the rest home about what is possible.

ACC: Some injury-related needs – especially after an accident – may be supported by ACC. Your GP or hospital team can advise whether ACC is involved.

Safety / living alone: If you live alone, feel unsafe, are at risk of falling or are struggling with basic tasks during recovery, tell your GP or hospital team. It can increase the urgency of your referral.

Memory “Not sure”: If you or others are unsure about changes in memory or decision-making, your GP may want to assess this further.

Recent decline: If your abilities have worsened in the last few months (more falls, more help needed with showering, dressing or meals), it’s important to tell your GP – recent decline can still lead to eligibility.

Carer stress: If a carer is starting to feel stretched, anxious or exhausted, they may be eligible for Respite Care or the Carer Support Subsidy. This should be mentioned in any referral.

ACC: If some of your problems are related to an injury, ACC may contribute to support, rehab or equipment.

DHB / Te Whatu Ora services: If you already have hospital or community services involved, that team may need to reassess your needs rather than starting a completely new referral elsewhere.

Hospice: If Hospice or palliative care is involved, all palliative support is coordinated directly by Hospice, not by NASC or CCC. If you feel you need more support, talk with your Hospice nurse/doctor or your GP about what might be available.

Residential care:

Serviced apartments/units → not eligible for publicly funded home support.
Standard rest home rooms → eligibility varies; ask your GP or the rest home for advice.

DHB services: If you already receive services from a hospital or community team, further support may require reassessment by that team rather than a new referral.

Memory “Not sure”: If you’re concerned about memory or decision-making, it’s still worth talking to your GP, even if funding isn’t available yet.

ACC: If your difficulties are injury-related, ACC may be able to help with rehab, equipment or limited support.

Contact Info

Community Care Coordination (Short Term Support – up to 6 weeks)

Referrals to the Community Care Coordination Service come from registered health professionals, including nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and GPs.

Tel: 0800 267 222

Email: admin@bopccc.org.nz