Choosing Ryman means embracing retirement living, your way. In our villages, you’ll find the perfect blend of independence and community, with premium amenities, award-winning services, and a range of care options. Discover a retirement filled with opportunity and a lifestyle that brings you joy. 

Ryman villages offer independent and assisted living alongside a range of care options. Depending on the village, the levels of care we provide include rest home, hospital, specialist dementia care, and respite care. In some instances, we may also be able to offer rest home care in an assisted-living apartment. This option enables you to remain in your own apartment but with a little extra support.    
 
Care options vary between villages, please check with your local village.   
 
No matter which care option you need, you will receive high quality care. Your care is customised according to your needs and preferences. Our award-winning myRyman Care app and electronic medication system provides our team with secure access to real-time clinical data for accurate and efficient care.

Once you live in a Ryman retirement village, you will always have priority access to our care options over non-residents at the time of your transfer.  

If no space is available at your preferred village at this time, we will do our best to accommodate you at another Ryman village that provides the care you need until a suitable space is available at your village of choice. 

There are many things to consider when moving to a retirement village, and it’s important to do your research and get advice from trusted sources.    

It’s a good idea to visit several villages and see which feels right for you. Going for a stroll around a village and chatting to residents and village staff is the best way to obtain a true appreciation of what life will be like. Take in the sights and sounds and observe the general atmosphere. Ask yourself if you could see yourself living there.    
 
If you are looking for rest home, hospital, or dementia care for a loved one, choose a village offering specialist care which considers the person’s unique personality and needs. Safety, accessibility, food, and activity preferences are all important.   

When trying to decide, there are some key things to look out for. Knowing the correct questions to ask will help you choose the option that best suits you and is the right decision for you and your family.    
 
Consumer.org has a handy checklist you can download and print off which covers many of these key questions. Click here to view. 

If you’d like to tour a Ryman village, ring the village or fill in the form below to request an appointment for a personalised tour. We’ll spend time with you and answer any questions that you have. It’s also a great idea to bring your checklist of questions with you.   

Living independently or in assisted living within a Ryman village is different from living in a Ryman care centre.  Read below for more information on the different tiers of retirement living and care available and which might best suit your needs. 

Enjoy modern apartment or townhouse living with the convenience of premium amenities and a vibrant community. They're elegant and easy to maintain with everything you need. Giving you more time and energy to do the things you love, like having a quiet night in or hosting friends for dinner. 

Our serviced apartments come with added support to make life easier, like housekeeping and a chef-prepared meal every day. Serviced apartments are centrally located in the heart of the village, so getting around is a breeze and staying active and connected with others is easy. It’s independence in the sanctuary of your own apartment with support you can count on, wrapped up in a community you can thrive in. 

Our care options include rest home, respite and in most villages, hospital and specialist dementia care. If you need to transfer to care, you have priority access over non-residents to your village care centre. If no space is available at your preferred village at this time, we will do our best to accommodate you at another Ryman village that provides the care you need until a suitable space is available at your village of choice. 

Although people can choose to retire earlier or later, the official age for retirement in New Zealand is 65 years old. This is the age that people become eligible to receive NZ Super and typically gain access to their KiwiSaver balances.   
 
The age that you need to be to enter a retirement village in New Zealand varies depending on the village provider. Some villages may allow residents to enter as early as 55 while others have a minimum entry age of between 65 and 75. Ryman villages in New Zealand have a minimum age requirement of 70 years, although that can be lowered in some circumstances. 

How you pay depends on what part of the village you are living in. If you live in an independent or assisted-living apartment or townhouse, it works differently than if you are living in the care centre. Below is a an overview of how it works.

Moving in 

Moving in requires an entry payment. It’s a one-off fee, paid before you move in and while we’re sure you’ll love living in a Ryman village, you have 90 days* to change your mind and receive your money back. 

The entry payment agreed in your Occupation Right Agreement (ORA) covers your home in the village and access to our award-winning services and world-class amenities.

A Deferred Management Fee (DMF) is your contribution to the continued maintenance and management of the village, including your unit and village amenities. Often referred to as a departure fee or exit fee, the DMF is an amount that becomes payable when you permanently vacate your unit. The DMF is calculated as a percentage of the entry payment. 

We offer a choice in DMF of either 30% or 25%, with the latter option having a higher entry price. 
 
*Some conditions apply. If you would like to know more, please contact us. 

Living in your unit 

You pay a weekly fee which covers the daily running of your village. It keeps the amenities in top shape, the gardens looking gorgeous, activities, and exterior maintenance including window cleaning inside and out.    

You can choose between fixed or indexed weekly fees which are set at the time of signing your agreement. Indexed weekly fees are linked to the annual increase in superannuation. 

Moving out 

Your weekly fees stop as soon as you move out. As well as contributing to managing and maintaining village amenities, the DMF covers the cost of refurbishing and reselling your home in the village. 

Your entry payment minus the DMF will be paid back to you or your family when a new resident moves into your unit. This means you can be certain this money will be returned to you or your loved ones as soon as possible. 

At Ryman, you also won’t pay an additional DMF or an additional entry payment if you transfer from independent living to a serviced apartment. Plus, there are no transfer fees. 

If you have been assessed as needing long-term care in a Ryman village care centre, you may be able to get a Residential Care Subsidy to help with the cost of your care. It's paid directly to us by Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora. Whether you receive government assistance will depend on your income and assets when you need to go into care.   
 
For detailed information on applying for a residential care subsidy, visit Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora. You can also contact us by calling 0800 588 222 or fill in our contact form and we will get in touch to explain your options.

If you would like to chat to someone at Ryman to get some clarity on how fees work and what assistance you may be eligible for, please contact us. 

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