Southern View: April 22, 2021

SOUTHERN VIEW Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Thursday April 22 2021 5
Well-being, social centre opens for seniors
THE COUNTRY’S first wellness
centre for older adults has
launched in Addington in a bid
to address social isolation.
The Arvida Good Friends
Wellness Centre, is designed to
enable older people to remain
in their homes while having
a place to go to foster social
connections.
Members will be able to utilise
an indoor pool, a specialist gym
for people over 50, physiotherapy
services, a hair salon and a cafe
to meet family and friends.
They will also have access
to health services such as
counselling or podiatry and
can attend classes from yoga
and Zumba to first aid, floral
arranging and whiskey tastings.
At its core, Good Friends
is about having choices and
putting control back in the
hands of older New Zealanders –
a transformative approach to the
ageing experience.
It will support them to keep
well, active and connected
while staying in the homes they
already know and love.
But the centre’s new hair
and beauty salon, Gorgeous
George, has a name that
honours a former resident who
died last year and left behind
a lasting legacy of community
involvement.
Once a resident of Arvida’s
Mayfair Retirement Village,
Upper Riccarton, George
Holdem was a pioneer of
resident-led activities.
When he saw something
that needed attention, he was
frank and upfront about letting
management know and liked to
be part of the solution.
Resident excursions were
another focus for George. He
once famously organised a train
excursion on the TranzAlpine to
Greymouth and back.
He took care of everything
– publicity posters, taking
bookings, getting the tickets and
organising the day.
Said Mayfair manager Graeme
Gordon: “I remember George
as the pioneer of resident-led
activities. He started a tradition
of resident involvement that
continues today at all Arvida
communities.
“George was a one-of-akind,
can-do person that we
all appreciated for his love of
life and ability to inspire other
residents to get involved.
“He was incredibly thoughtful,
innovative, kind and an
exceptional planner.”
In 2019, George was
nominated for the Excellence
in Care Awards, which are run
by the New Zealand Aged Care
Association.
CONNECTIONS:
The Arvida
Good Friends
Wellness Centre
is the country’s
first dedicated
wellness centre
for older adults,
and it has just
opened in
Addington.
“A born leader, George was
quick to volunteer his time,
energy and ideas when he moved
into his new home at Mayfair
village,” an excerpt from his
award entry read.
“His ability to unite
people, build community
and put plans into action has
had a significant impact on
the quality of life of people in
Mayfair and the wider Arvida
community.”
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