Western News: August 05, 2021
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WESTERN NEWS Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
Thursday <strong>August</strong> 5 <strong>2021</strong> 7<br />
ADVERTISEMENT<br />
MARGARET STODDART<br />
VILLAGE FEELS LIKE HOME<br />
Margaret Stoddart Retirement Village’s<br />
residents and staff enjoy a feel-good village<br />
boasting that x-factor. The village is quietly<br />
tucked away behind Riccarton Road, and<br />
always impresses visitors and prospective<br />
residents when they visit.<br />
An advantage of the location is that the village<br />
is very close to Hagley Park, retail shops, cafes,<br />
and Riccarton Mall, with a bus stop close by.<br />
New residents find many positives living in<br />
the boutique village and often comment ‘it<br />
already feels like home’.<br />
The team of managers, care and activities<br />
staff love the positive reaction from<br />
residents; it makes their job a pleasure.<br />
The leadership team comprises of Village<br />
Manager Merrin Jack, Clinical Manager Maya<br />
Daniel and Serviced Apartment Coordinator<br />
Hilary Westley.<br />
Merrin says Margaret Stoddart has a<br />
wonderful atmosphere. Independent,<br />
serviced apartment and resthome residents<br />
often come together to provide a lovely<br />
sense of community.<br />
Staff members get to know family<br />
members well too, young grandchildren<br />
are given a special welcome with a smile<br />
and high-five!<br />
Merrin believes that a well-run village,<br />
backed by the wider Ryman team, makes<br />
for happy residents, staff and beautiful<br />
well-maintained facilities.<br />
Maya is closely involved with many residents,<br />
their families, and GPs. Over the two years<br />
she has been at the Riccarton village it has<br />
been very satisfying to be part of the family.<br />
Hilary says both staff and residents love their<br />
day to day interaction, and there is a lot of<br />
fun and laughter. “The beauty of it is because<br />
we are so small, we get to know everyone<br />
very well, and they get to know us well.”<br />
“We get to know the residents and their<br />
history, their stories. We know what their<br />
preferences are and what interests them.”<br />
In her role, Hilary ensures the resident’s<br />
daily living needs are met and liaises with the<br />
nursing staff regarding any health needs.<br />
Surinder, Activities and Lifestyle Coordinator,<br />
leads a comprehensive activities programme<br />
She enjoys the close contact with the<br />
residents and organising the regular Happy<br />
Hour get-togethers, exercise classes and<br />
church services at the village.<br />
Another part of her job is to organise events<br />
and outings to cafes and Canterbury scenic<br />
spots in the village van.<br />
Merrin adds how lucky they are to have<br />
dedicated, caring residents who like to get<br />
involved and establish groups such as the<br />
village choir.<br />
“We have a wonderful group of independent<br />
residents who put on a pantomime for the<br />
rest of the village each year, for no reason<br />
other than it brings joy to others.”<br />
Sales Advisor Lynne Bretherton helps new<br />
residents with the sales and move-in process<br />
and enjoys continuing the relationship as<br />
they become part of the village community.<br />
Richard Crump, Lead Maintenance, and<br />
Stephen Cartwright, Head Gardener, enjoy<br />
chatting with residents as they go about their<br />
daily work.<br />
Richard loves helping the residents. He<br />
does everything from fixing pieces of art to<br />
residents’ walls, and putting up shelves, to<br />
liaising with the tradesmen and contractors<br />
to ensure the village is very well-maintained.<br />
Stephen designs and maintains the beautiful<br />
gardens in the village. He also completes<br />
maintenance jobs as required and has even<br />
been known to glue a shoe or two! There<br />
is also a communal fruit and vegetable<br />
garden for the residents, so they can grow<br />
their own produce.<br />
Margaret Stoddart Retirement Village has<br />
happy residents and caring, professional<br />
staff, giving it a real family feel.<br />
MARGARET STODDART<br />
RETIREMENT VILLAGE<br />
23 Bartlett Street, Riccarton, 337 6500<br />
MEET THE TEAM<br />
Please call in anytime if you would like to meet the team or go on a tour of our boutique village.<br />
Merrin Jack<br />
Village<br />
Manager<br />
Maya Daniel<br />
Clinical<br />
Manager<br />
Hilary Westley<br />
Serviced<br />
Apartment<br />
Coordinator<br />
Lynne<br />
Bretherton<br />
Sales Advisor<br />
Surinder Kaur<br />
Activities<br />
& Lifestyle<br />
Coordinator<br />
Stephen<br />
Cartwright<br />
Head Gardener<br />
Richard Crump<br />
Lead<br />
Maintenance