Southern View: August 13, 2019

SOUTHERN VIEW Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday August 13 2019 11
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A place to call home
For Lois, Essie Summers
Retirement Village has proved
the best place to be.
Lois enjoys her sunny
hospital room the most and
loves the fact that she has the
choice to go out and about with
other residents on van outings
or spend a quiet afternoon in
her room.
Lois got married in 1965 and
helped her husband Tom on
their Marlborough property,
Kilkishen Farm. The couple
raised their three children
Steve, Kevin and Louise. They
also farmed sheep and cattle,
which made for a busy life, her
daughter Louise says.
Eventually the children were
sent to boarding schools in
Christchurch.
“They lived on that farm for
50 years, my mother was loved
in the community, she helped
out on the farm, kept chickens
and had a big garden,” says
Louise.
“My father died in 2008 and
she lived on the farm for ten
years after my father’s passing.
Eventually she became too frail
to live alone.”
So, mother and daughter
decided on a move to
Christchurch to be near family,
and they set about looking for
a place that suited.
“I needed a place to do things
and go on bus tours but still have
a quiet place to rest,” Lois says.
They visited a few places
before deciding on Essie
Summers. The clincher for
them was the atmosphere at
the village.
“The staff are really nice,
and the meals are fantastic,”
Lois says.
“I like not cooking my meals,”
she laughs.
She’s as active as she can be
in the village.
“The activities are good, and I
Lois, pictured with Clinical Manager Melanie, is happy to call Essie Summers home
love the knitting group. We meet
up once a week to have a chat.”
Her sunny room is decorated
with photos of the farm and
family, and little ornaments of
birds.
“My room gets most of the
afternoon sun, which I love.”
Essie Summers Retirement
Village offers a range of
retirement living and care
options. Residents can live
independently in a townhouse
or receive assistance in a
serviced apartment, and there
is also a care centre offering
resthome, hospital, and
specialist dementia care.
Residents can relax or meet
their friends in the village centre
where the amenities include
indoor bowls, a grand atrium,
library, hair salon, and terrace.
Clinical Manager Melanie
Asuncion says the team puts an
emphasis on getting to know
new residents to help them
settle in.
“We try to know as much
about our residents and their
families. Each morning I do
my rounds so that I can touch
base with every resident. It’s
not just about their health but
their likes and dislikes. Our
care plans reect that.”
“It’s personalised care. A
holistic approach to their
social life too.”
“The Ryman difference for me
is that we are family oriented.”
For Melanie it’s important
that the staff understand
how important kindness and
friendliness is.
“It’s the basis of our care. It
creates a friendly vibe which
makes our staff approachable
to everyone, and that’s essential
for our work.”
Activities coordinators also
tailor activities for the residents.
“For example, we have a
resident who loves to read, so
one of our activities with her
is to have a book review with
her every week,” says Melanie
smiling.
For Lois, Essie Summers has
indeed become her home.
“I do like the social life at
the village,” she says, “but my
favourite thing is that the staff
are kind. You can’t ask for more
than that.”
And for her daughter seeing
her mum’s health improve
means so much.
“She’s made a remarkable
recovery and it means the
world to me.”
Retirement
living and care
at its best!
To enquire about availabilities
phone Rosemary on 337 2702
222 Colombo Street, Beckenham