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Assistance: home help, personal care or special equipment

You may be eligible for government funding for assistance or equipment. Alternatively, you can choose to pay for it privately. To find out more about eligibility for government funding, contact the Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination agency in your area. Browse the Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination agencies to find the service in your region. (look for "Needs Assessment" under keywords in the above search.) Alternatively, you can ask your doctor or practice nurse for advice on where to go for help.

If you wish to fund assistance privately, home help agencies can be located in your area by looking in the yellow pages of your telephone book under "Home Help". Disability equipment can be purchased from shops specialising in such equipment. Look in your yellow pages under "Disability Aids & Services". Alternatively, you can look at our equipment page to find suppliers of new equipment, and browse through the second hand noticeboard.

The Disability funding info website provides comprehensive information on Ministry of Health funding for equipment, housing modifications and vehicles. The site includes sections on eligibility, how to apply, what is and is not funded and how the funding process works. There is also a frequently asked questions section. If you cannot find the information you are looking for you can ask a question on line.


Needs Assessment Co-ordination Services

Needs Assessment Co-ordination Services (NASC)
These are agencies contracted to the Government to assess the needs of disabled people within their homes, and co-ordinate services as required.

Bay Home Support Referral Form (55KB Word)
Any person can make a direct referral to Bay Home Support for themselves or on behalf of someone else. You do not have to go through your GP, although that can be helpful as your GP knows alot about your disability / health needs. Please complete the Referral Form and email bhs.referral@hawkesbaydhb.govt.nz or fax to 06 870 7481.

Regional Information Centres

Disability Information Centres
The New Zealand Federation of Disability Information Centres has branches throughout New Zealand. They are a network of information centres specialising in the needs of older people and people with disabilities.

National New Zealand Directory
National New Zealand Directory, looking for support for you and your family? The National Directory lists organisations in your area that can help.


Resthomes, Retirement Villages, Hospitals and other Residential Care throughout New Zealand

Eldernet New Zealand
Provides a searchable list of resthomes, retirement villages and hospitals.

Healthcare New Zealand
Provide care to a wide range of people both in the community and in residential settings.

Hospice New Zealand
A national organisation which supports and assists hospices to care for the terminally ill.

SeniorLink
Provides a searchable list of resthomes, retirement villages and hospitals.


Equipment

Visit the equipment page for information on a range of disability equipment.


National Support Groups and Organisations

Carers New Zealand
Help for New Zealand's 750,000+ family carers, whanau and friends.

Christchurch City Library
Provides links to a number of organisations and support groups throughout New Zealand.

Citizens Advice Bureaux
Citizens Advice Bureau can give you information and advice about all sorts of problems or questions - all of which is free.

Eldernet New Zealand
Provides a list of support organisations throughout New Zealand.

Guidance and Support Directory
An online searchable database which list charities and support groups throughout New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Neighbourhood Support New Zealand
Neighbourhood Support New Zealand Incorporated provides support for all neighbourhood and rural support groups throughout New Zealand.

Parent to Parent
Parent to Parent is a national support and information network for parents of children with special needs.

Self-help Online
Discussion forums, online bookshop, community resources and 'warm fuzzies' for those seeking personal development, support or inspiration.

St John Caring Caller
St John Caring Caller Service is a FREE National service. A long-term friendship service that offers those who are housebound, or live on their own, the opportunity to stay in daily contact by phone with someone who cares about them.
There is an optional daily safeguard service for those who are medically at risk to check on their safety and wellbeing.


International Support

Disabled Online
DisabledOnline.com offers something for everyone including: news stories, message boards, disabled topics and chat rooms.

World Association of Persons with Disabilities
Voices of positive ability.




Can’t find what you’re looking for? Try talking to our online assistant or contact Enable New Zealand or New Zealand Federation of Disability Information Centres.

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