Why this exists

When my father died in 2024, my mother was suddenly living alone for the first time in over 40 years. She is independent, sharp, and determined to stay in her own home. But I live far enough away that I can't check on her every day — and the worry is constant.

I quickly discovered that the information families need was scattered across ten different government websites, aged-care providers, news articles, and private forums. Rest home costs were quoted differently everywhere. Nobody had a clear answer on what the Needs Assessment actually covers. The advice on falls, dementia, and choosing rest homes was either generic and watered-down, or written for clinicians rather than families.

So I started consolidating it. Haile is the result — a single, plain-language reference for the questions adult children of elderly New Zealanders actually ask: what does it really cost, what is the government willing to pay for, what does declining independence look like, and what are the realistic alternatives to a rest home?

The guides are free, ad-free, and always will be.