Fees
Two Types of Residential Care Fees
There are two methods by which fees are paid - privately funded or government subsidised.
Privately Funded:
Where your realisable assets are greater than the current allowable level you are required to pay the full residential care fee The current threshold (as at 1 July 2024) is:
| Single Person | $284,636 of assets |
| Married Couple (where both are in long-term residential care) | $284,636 of assets |
| Married Couple (where only one is in long-term residential care) can choose either: | |
| Combined total assets EXCLUDING your family home, car and up to $10,000 in pre-paid funeral expenses | $155,873 of assets |
| OR |
| Combined total assets INCLUDING the value of your house and car | $284,636 total assets |
Government Subsidy:
You will be eligible for a Government subsidised if:
- Your realisable assets are less than the figures above; and
- You are 65 years or older (or if younger, have a specific exemption to this requirement); and
- You have been assessed by an Older People’s Health Service as requiring Rest Home care or long stay Hospital care.
If you meet these criteria, the Ministry of Health pays a subsidy. This subsidy, combined with your National Superannuation, covers the full cost of your care.
Note that Birchleigh may levy an additional charge for residents choosing one of our larger apartment style rooms. Click here for details.
Silverstream Rest Home Apartments
Birchleigh offers 22 apartment-style rooms in our Silverstream Rest Home. These rooms attract a surcharge of $175.00 per week (including GST) above our standard Rest Home fee.
This charge is not part of the standard Rest Home fee for service set by Te Whatu Ora (Southern); it is an additional charge for the extra space and facilities these apartments offer compared with a standard Rest Home room. Private-paying and subsidised residents who choose one of these apartments accept this additional charge as a condition of their occupancy.
There are three slightly smaller bed-sitter apartments, which have a surcharge of $87.50 per week.
The balance of the rooms do not attract a surcharge. They are of an equally high standard of finish, and have a shared ensuite arrangement.
Braeside Hospital Apartment
Our Braeside Hospital Unit has one large studio apartment with ensuite. This room can comfortably accommodate a couple.
The surcharge for this apartment is $245.00 per week.
(Surcharge pricing is correct as at 1st July 2023)
Premium Accommodation Charges:
We have several larger rooms in our Silverstream Rest Home, each with a private ensuite bathroom. These rooms have an additional Premium Accommodation Charge of between $18.00 and $35.00 per day (including GST).
In our Braeside Hospital unit we have two large rooms capable of accommodating a couple which also includes a private ensuite bathroom. This room has a Premium Accommodation Charge of $35 per day (including GST).
Specific details of Premium Accommodation Charges will be included in your admission agreement and you are welcome to discuss these with your Nurse Manager.
