Retirement Village Residents Association of New Zealand
Retirement from work is no longer retirement from life. In fact, it’s the opposite - a ‘second life’ where growth, learning and discovery become more important, not less. People can enjoy the retirement village lifestyle whether they are 65 or 90 years of age.
Retirement villages offer access to facilities and services that lead to improved health outcomes and greater social interaction than would be possible in a general residential setting. People who take responsibility for their own wellness future and get supportive home care, live longer and avoid hospital and aged care homes. Does this sound like retirement villages? Research shows retirement village residents live five years longer than the average Kiwi and they are far less likely to go into residential aged care. ‘Assisted living’ is the increasingly popular label for retirement villages supporting frail residents in their own home. It has a big future. But its success depends on the quality of Village Managers. The RVRANZ protects the rights of retirement village residents in New Zealand
The focus is on the Retirement Villages Act 2003 and the Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008. The Act defines the rights of retirement village residents when they commit to a Occupation Right Agreement with the owner of the retirement village, in which they purchase a licence to occupy a villa, cottage, or apartment. It’s important that RVRANZ spokespeople have a genuine mandate to speak on behalf of the resident body, rather than pursuing issues of importance to an individual. Annual General Meeting20 June 2019 1.30pm Remuera Golf Club, 120 Abbotts Way, Remuera, Auckland
For the Meeting Notice and Nomination Form Regional AGM'sRVRANZ Activities Hon Tracey Martin
There are now about 450 registered retirement villages with another 81 under construction.
The last newsletter contained detailed information of the amendments to the Code of Practice, proposed by RVRANZ. Submissions have been made to the Retirement Commissioner, Policy Advisors at the MBIE and the RVA, the operators. This year also a review of the role of the Statutory Supervisors was conducted and we were invited to meet with the FMA to air our concerns. Needless to say, the sub-committee charged with preparing and delivering all these concerns, has had a very busy few months. Our grateful thanks go to sub-committee chairman Anton Coetzee from Omokoroa, for the countless hours he contributed. Meeting the Minister for Seniors We met with Hon Tracey Martin on 23 March. We were impressed with her response to our concerns and she asked us to keep in touch. She said that we really need someone in a position to advocate for us and it should be her Ministry. The role of the Retirement Commissioner is being reviewed and her meeting with us was timely. Proposed amendments to the Code of Practice presented to her Please See Here Moving from Retirement Village Unit to Rest Home Care
Buying into a retirement village and later transferring into a rest home can pose financial fishhooks which buyers should get full disclosure about, warns the watchdog on retirement villages.
Buyers should get this information including terms of transfer for short and long-term rest home care before buying an independent unit in a retirement village, Troy Churton, national manager, retirement villages, for the Commission for Financial Capability, said. He said almost 70 per cent of retirement villages had co-located rest home care and many villages were marketing this "continuum of care" with the boundaries between the two blurred. For more information please see here New Source of Photo ID
The new Kiwi Access Card will have a positive impact for people who do not have, or are not eligible for a driver licence or passport. The Kiwi Access Card will allow people to be able to prove who they are, so that they can do things like open bank accounts and pick up prescriptions.
For further details - please see here Check out the New Eligibility Guide
Not sure what help you might be eligible for?
Then check out the new online eligibility guide from the Ministry of Social Development. The guide will take you through a series of simple questions about your circumstances, your family, children, income, health, expenses and living situation. Once you have answered all the questions you will get a list with details of the services you may be able to get, along with an estimate of how much you might qualify for. You can then view further information about these services and how to apply. The guide is very user-friendly and will work on any computer or mobile device. It does not keep any of the information you enter. Need extra help? Some people may be eligible for extra help with their NZ Super, like the Accommodation Supplement, Disability Allowance or Temporary Additional Support. In these situations, the guide is a great first step to understanding what may be available to you, and how to access it. If you don’t have access to a computer, you can contact the Seniors line on 0800 552 002. For more information or to access the guide go to http://check.msd.govt.nz Annual Increase to NZ SuperSuper and Veteran’s Pension payments are adjusted each year to reflect increases in the cost of living, inflation and the average wage.
From 1 April payments will increase to:
For a full summary of the new rates go to www.workandincome.govt.nz and search for ‘benefit rates 2019’. Winter Energy Payment If you’re getting NZ Super or Veteran’s Pension, you’ll also get the Winter Energy Payment from 1 May to 1 October each year. You don’t have to apply, you’ll get it automatically with your other payments. Couples and people with dependent children will get $31.82 a week and single people will get $20.46 a week. 
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Contact us if you would like to talk about any matter concerningWe are interested in hearing your views.
Click here to open the contact form for sending your message. Or by email
Please Click Here forNew Photo ID
April 2019 Newsletter Assistance with Downsizing Cheaper Doctors Visits Financial Abuse Advice New Residential Care Rates JLL Report on the Retirement Sector Future Care and Assistance Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) Travelling Overseas Lending Money to Family Elder Abuse Click here for Region details
New Management The National Executive has entered into an agreement with Nigel Matthews to provide part-time management of the Association.
For further details, please see here Subscriptions Subscriptions for the 2019/2020 year have been set at $10.00 per person and $15.00 per couple Residents Associations
Village residents are encouraged to form a local village association if you have not done so. To assist with this, please find a Model Constitution for you to adapt and adopt
Community Service Cards
From 1 December, changes to Community Services Card benefits mean many Community Service cardholders will pay less to visit their doctor. If your SuperGold card has "CSC" on the back you can use it for health services as well as SuperGold discounts. You can get lower cost visits to your general practice for health, injury, and more. Many medical practices are now offering lower fees for enrolled Community Services Card holders and more will join in March and April. Make sure you always carry your card to make it easy to get the benefits, like paying less to see your doctor. If you don't have a Community Services Card, it's worth checking if you can get one. You can find out more through the Work and Income website Guidelines about Pets
People must be aware of the guidelines retirement villages have in place regarding pets, as some have strict policies against keeping animals in the facility. Before signing up, a person should check with the village about its pet policies and get the approval of the operator to bring their pet with them.
A Better Later LifeThe number of people over the age of 65 is increasing and this trend is set continue. People are not only living much longer, they are also healthier for longer. This longevity means that we need to rethink the existing ideas around old age and later life.
Minister for Seniors, Tracey Martin, is asking for feedback on the draft strategy and whether it is on the right track in making the future better for New Zealanders as we age. Public consultation on the draft strategy will start later this month and will close on 3 June. Keep an eye out on the SuperSeniors website for more information on the draft strategy and how you can provide feedback. |
