Retirement villages
There's
some protection for older people through the Retirement Villages Code
of Practice but you still need to receive independent legal advice before signing a contract.
The Retirement Villages Act, regulations, and Code of Practice set
the framework for relationships between residents, intending residents,
operators and supervisors. The Code sets
national minimum standards that all retirement village operators have
to meet.
If you are thinking about living in a retirement village, check out this booklet to give you more information.
Care services
Some retirement village residents have contracts stating that they
can only access ‘in-house’ personal care, which they then must pay for,
even though they may have been eligible for state-funded home support
services.
If you're thinking of moving into a retirement village you should
ensure you understand fully the implications of the Occupation Right
Agreement you're being asked to sign. Ask your legal adviser whether the
contract will affect your right to access government-funded services –
if the answer is yes, you may wish to negotiate these clauses out of the
contract before signing.
Resources
Visit the Department of Building and Housing for the Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008
Visit the Office of the Retirement Commissioner for information on their monitoring of villages
Visit the Retirement Villages Association
Visit the Retirement Village Residents Association of New Zealand for information for residents.