Hospital level care in New Zealand – care and support at Bupa care homes

Frequently asked questions

• What is hospital level care, and who is it best suited for?

  At Bupa, hospital level care includes:

  • Nursing support and medication management
  • Meals, cleaning, and laundry
  • Personal care and hygiene support
  • Structured routines and activity programmes
  • Emotional and behavioural support and regular clinical reviews
  • A compassionate, trained team

  Hospital level care at Bupa is delivered by dedicated healthcare professionals committed to supporting our residents’ dignity, comfort, and wellbeing.

• What is the difference between rest home level care and hospital level care?

  While both rest home and hospital level care offer support with daily living, hospital level care involves a higher level of clinical support and management of medical conditions.

  • Rest home level care is typically designed for people who are generally mobile and need help with everyday tasks such as personal hygiene or meals. 
  • Hospital level care is designed for people with greater health needs, for whom ongoing nursing and medical support are required.

  Learn more about rest home level care, dementia level care and psychogeriatric level care options at Bupa.

   

• What other care services do Bupa provide?

  Bupa also offers dementia and psychogeriatric levels of care, in certain care homes, for people with specialised needs. Bupa has a ‘Person first, dementia second’ approach, with dementia-friendly care homes that address safety concerns and provide the necessary support, ensuring wellbeing and peace of mind for our residents and their family/ whānau.

  • Rest Home level care
  • Dementia level care 
  • Psychogeriatric level care

• What about costs? How do they work?

  Typically, your monthly payments are paid for by a combination of people and or services including you, your private funds and or superannuation, Te Whatu Ora, and any subsidies you may be eligible to receive.

  At Bupa, we are proud of the comprehensive aged care experience and services we provide. As well as your accommodation, we provide personal care services which could include the following:

  • Seasonal menus covering breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper. These can also be personalised based on your preferences, cultural requirements, and any dietary needs.
  • A social and recreational programme, tailored to your interests, which may include visits to shops or other areas of interest in the community.
  • Care services including nursing and support, general practitioner or nurse practitioner visits, your prescribed medication (to the extent they are subsidised by Pharmac), and certain specific medical care products you may require.
  • Certain specific communal equipment and mobility aids so you can continue to be you, at Bupa.
  • Transport to certain health services.
  • Laundry and cleaning of your accommodation.

  Services that are covered under our agreement with Health NZ Te Whatu Ora will be included in the daily care fee. Any other services not covered (“additional services”) will be charged separately* and at your option. Availability of additional services may also change from time to time. Please refer to the admission agreement for more details. 

  Where you have chosen to receive additional services*, the charges are paid monthly via an account you will set up with our partner organisation called Capital Guardians. Additional services include:

  • Hairdressing and beautician services
  • Dry cleaning
  • Dentists, podiatry, opticians, audiologists, radiologists
  • Physiotherapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Customised and personal care items e.g. specialised communication equipment or mobility equipment
  • Specialised assessment and rehabilitation services
  • Non-Pharmac funded medication

  *Some of the above services may be part of your treatment plan and paid for by separate funding from Te Whatu Ora, Manatū Hauora (The Ministry of Health), or ACC. Please check with your Needs Assessor to find out more.

  Subsidies and funding

• Is there funding or a subsidy available for hospital level care?

  Yes. If you meet certain financial criteria, you may qualify for a residential care subsidy to help cover costs. Your needs will be assessed by a local needs assessor. 

  Find out more about: 

  • Needs assessment with NASCA
  • Payment options
  • Subsidies and funding

• How can I find a care home near me that provides hospital level care?

  At Bupa, we understand that being close to relatives or in a familiar location is an important consideration. You can use our Bupa care home locator to view a list of care homes that offer hospital level care in your preferred region.

• How can I check availability for hospital level care at a Bupa care home?

  We recommend calling your preferred care home directly to confirm the most up-to-date availability and talk through your options with our friendly team. We are here to help you find the right fit.

• When is it time to consider hospital level care?

  It may be time to consider hospital level care if you or your relative:

  • Are experiencing frequent hospital visits or medical emergencies
  • Are living with a complex or chronic health condition
  • Have had a recent fall or noticeable decline in mobility
  • Need regular nursing support to manage daily health needs

  If you are unsure, talk to your General Practitioner (GP) or contact your local NASC service to organise a needs assess

• How will the care home team know how to care for my family member?

  Shortly after admission, a care plan is formulated with a tailored approach to supporting a person’s health and wellbeing, routines, safety, and quality of life. At Bupa, these care plans are developed with input from the resident (where possible), their family/ whānau, and healthcare professionals.

  Care plans are updated regularly to reflect any changes in condition, preferences, or support needs.

• What services are included in hospital level care?

  Hospital level care can include:

  • Meals
  • Support with personal care
  • Laundry
  • Housekeeping
  • Medication management
  • Social activities
  • Support team 24/7

  Learn more about the services and support you can expect at a care home 

  If further support is needed for you or a relative, please visit our other levels of care pages 

  • Rest Home level care
  • Dementia level care 
  • Psychogeriatric level care

   

• How do I know if hospital level care is right for me or my relative?

  We know there is a lot to consider if a family member or friend needs the support a care home can provide. It may be time to consider hospital level care for yourself or a relative if you or your relative are living with a complex or chronic health condition and medical emergencies are increasingly frequent. The decision to move to hospital level care is significant, and we are here to help you with care and advice as you start your care home journey.

  If you have noticed a change or decline it could be time to visit your general practitioner (GP) for advice on next steps. A needs assessment will need to be carried out. To find out more visit  https://www.nznasca.co.nz/find-your-local-nasc/.

  You can find out more about the journey to care here.