Waikato Business News July/August 2019

2 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT July 2019
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Lots happening at Linda Jones
As the fi rst group of
townhouse residents
settle into their new
homes at Linda Jones
Retirement Village, the
construction team are
onto getting the next
lot of townhouses and
apartments ready for
move-ins elsewhere
on site.
The very rst residents
moved in at the end of
May and the second
group in late July. By the end
of August there will be around
60 residents enjoying life in
townhouses at Linda Jones and
by early November, the rst
apartments are set to be ready
for their new owners to move in.
Sales Advisor David de
Veth says the new residents
are already adapting well to
village life and are enjoying
participating.
“We have set up a temporary
village centre in one of the
townhouses and that’s where
everyone goes for the weekly
Happy Hours, Triple A exercise
classes and for morning and
afternoon teas.
“Happy Hour is a blast and
the residents are all loving it,
they’re like old friends now,”
David said.
Adds fellow Sales Advisor
Sharon Tainui, “We have an
awesome new staff member
Ann-Maree who is our
Activities Coordinator.
“She’s been organising lots
of outings and fun activities
and on 16 July we had a
very successful event at the
Hamilton Golf Club with
Vicki Lee singing a tribute to
Dame Vera Lynn with songs of
yesteryear.
“There were 94 people
altogether who were a mixture
of residents from the village
and those who will be moving
in soon and they all enjoyed
the great event and lovely
catering,” said Sharon.
There are lots more exciting
events to look forward to,
including a presentation
from fashion designer Annah
Stretton.
A number of showhome
open afternoons are also
scheduled for August which
will give members of the public
the chance to have a tour of the
brand new showhome and get
a taste of what’s on offer.
Sharon said there were still
some great homes available to
buy.
“We have apartments for
sale with fantastic outlooks.”
she said.
“It will be great once that
rst apartment block is open as
people will be able to get onto
the site and see the outlook
from the apartments, some of
Village family is growing - first residents Jillian and Clifford moved in to the village in May.
which look over neighbouring
Featherstone Park and some
over the Waikato River.
“It is truly going to be a
beautiful village,” she said.
The village will be comprised
of a mixture of townhouses
and apartment blocks on land
which gently slopes down
from River Road towards the
Waikato River.
The main village centre,
which will open in 2020, will
house the communal lounge
and dining room along with
a library, beauty and hair
salons, gymnasium, pool and
village café.
David said it had been the
‘coolest thing’ to see residents
move in and get a taste of what
was to come.
“I have got to know them
over quite some time and I feel
very close to them.
“Part of our job is to do what
we can to make their transition
easier and it’s a real privilege to
be able to help people through
the process.”
Many older people can feel
isolated in their communities
as their neighbours are often
out at work all day or leading
such busy lives they don’t have
time to socialise, Sharon says,
but at Linda Jones it’s the
opposite.
“At the village there’s already
that sense of community
growing where you know all
your neighbours and share
experiences with them.
“That has been the best part
of my job, seeing that evolve,”
she said.
For both David and Sharon,
working at Ryman is more
than just a job.
David sums it up: “It’s like
the residents have become a
part of the Linda Jones family,
and I’m part of the Linda
Jones family, so they’re part of
my family.
“It’s a pretty special
experience really.”
LINDA JONES RETIREMENT VILLAGE
Brand new
apartment plans
available now!
For more information or to view our
brand new apartment plans, phone
Sharon or David on 853 3382
1775 River Road, Hamilton