Advice & Resources
Home Care Explained
Understand how home care works in New Zealand, what support options are available, and how families can make confident decisions about care at home.
18 articles3 videosLast reviewed September 2026
Quick overview
Understanding home care
Home care covers a wide range of support, from a few hours of help with housework and meals each week to full daily personal care. Most families come to it gradually: what starts as picking up groceries or checking in after a fall often grows into a more structured arrangement once it becomes clear that occasional help isn’t enough.
In New Zealand, home care can be arranged privately, funded in part through a needs assessment with your local NASC (Needs Assessment and Service Coordination), or a mix of both. The right starting point depends on what kind of support is needed, how much, and how urgently — there’s rarely a single “correct” way to begin.
Below you’ll find where to start if you’re new to this, all of our home care advice and videos, answers to the questions families ask most, and the New Zealand organisations that can help you take the next step.
Start here
If you are new to this, start with these
The questions families ask first. Each one takes you straight to a full answer.
Home Care Explained content
Read advice / Watch video →
Read advice / Watch video →
Read advice / Watch video →
Read advice / Watch video →
Read advice / Watch video →
FEATURED IMAGE
Article
Dementia & Memory Support
Early Signs of Dementia: When Should Families Step In?
The changes families notice first are rarely dramatic. Here is what is worth paying attention to, and what to do next.
Read advice →
VIDEO THUMBNAIL
Video
Dementia & Memory Support
Supporting Someone With Dementia at Home
A short walk-through of the practical things that help most: routine, familiar surroundings and the right kind of help.
Watch video →
FEATURED IMAGE
Article
Dementia & Memory Support
Dementia and Daily Routines: Building a Calmer Day
Why routine matters so much, and how families can shape a day that feels predictable without feeling restrictive.
Read advice →
FEATURED IMAGE
Article
Dementia & Memory Support
Respite Care for Someone With Dementia: How It Works in NZ
What respite actually looks like, how families arrange it, and what support may be funded through a needs assessment.
Read advice →
VIDEO THUMBNAIL
Video
Dementia & Memory Support
Sundowning at Night: What Families Can Do
If your parent seems like a different person once evening arrives, this explains why it happens and what helps.
Watch video →
FEATURED IMAGE
Article
Dementia & Memory Support
When Memory Changes Become Unsafe: Knowing When to Get Help
The signs that suggest more support is needed, and the options open to families before a crisis happens.
Read advice →
Common questions
Questions families ask about dementia
Short answers to the things we are asked most, with links to the full guidance where it helps.
What's the difference between home care and home help?
Home help usually means practical support like cleaning or meal prep. Home care can include that plus personal care — showering, dressing, mobility support and medication reminders — provided by a trained carer.
Do I need a doctor's referral to arrange home care?
Not for private care — you can contact a provider directly. Publicly funded support usually starts with a needs assessment, which your GP or hospital can refer you to, or you can self-refer through your local NASC.
How quickly can home care be arranged?
Private care can often start within days. Funded care depends on assessment and provider availability, which can take longer, especially outside main centres.
Can home care start with just a few hours a week?
Yes — most families start small and increase support as needs change, rather than committing to full-time care straight away.
What happens if care needs change over time?
A good provider reviews the care plan regularly and adjusts hours or the type of support as needs increase — you’re not locked into the original plan.
Is home care only for people living alone?
No. It’s just as common for home care to support a couple, or to give a family carer regular breaks while they continue living with the person they support.
Trusted NZ sources
Trusted New Zealand information & support
Independent organisations that support families living with dementia across New Zealand.
Eldernet
A national directory of home care providers, retirement villages and aged residential care across New Zealand.
Age Concern New Zealand
Local support, advocacy and practical guidance for older people and their families nationwide.
Health New Zealand — Te Whatu Ora
Official guidance on assessments, funded support services and how to contact your local NASC.
Keep exploring
You may also find helpful
Category
Costs, Funding & Planning
What home care costs in New Zealand, what may be funded, and how to plan ahead.
Category
Safety & Independence at Home
Falls, home set-up and the small changes that keep someone safe without taking away their independence.
Category
Hospital, Recovery & Mobility
Support for the transition home after a hospital stay.
Need some extra support at home?
If someone you care about is finding everyday life more difficult, we’re happy to talk through what’s happening and help you understand your options — no pressure, no obligation.