Nor'West News: November 24, 2022

Thursday November 24 2022 7
Have a cuppa
at the BrainTree
BRAINTREE, the first wellness centre of
its kind in New Zealand to support people
with neurological conditions, is holding
an open day in Papanui on Saturday.
The centre at 70 Langdons Rd will be
open to the public from 10am to noon.
“We have had such positive feedback
from everyone attending either an activity
or support session since we opened in
June this year, we want to give the public
the chance to see just how special this
facility is and why it is earning such high
praise,” BrainTree general manager Phil
Marshall-Lee said.
“We hope people will pop in, have a
look around and enjoy a coffee.”
BrainTree is the new home for
Dementia Canterbury, Multiple Sclerosis
and Parkinson’s Canterbury, the Southern
Stroke Foundation, Southern Music
Therapy, Aspire Canterbury and Adult
Conductive Education Trust.
“The centre is already making life so
much better for the many people living in
the community with neurological conditions,”
Marshall-Lee said.
Conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis,
Parkinson’s and dementia are progressive,
and while some people become severely
disabled, most can live with relatively
moderate symptoms for longer periods
of time. The wellness centre is a key
component to ensuring those affected can
still live a full life after a diagnosis of a
neurological condition.
Marshall-Lee said the centre is
equipped with a gym, studio, cafe and
meeting spaces for individual or group
use, as well as being a place to share and
OPEN: The BrainTree centre on
Langdons Rd, next to Papanui
Bush, includes a gym and a café.
learn from real-life experiences, take part
in activity support groups and access
specialist well-being services. It can also
host conferences for up to 80 people, with
all inquiries welcome.
The $8 million complex is the
culmination of a huge community
effort since Dementia Canterbury, and
Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s
Canterbury joined forces in 2017 in the
Canterbury Brain Collective, a registered
charity, to build a home for the two
societies. The cost has been almost
entirely funded by private individuals,
businesses and community trusts in
Christchurch.
The donors, many of whom have
known someone personally affected,
have opened their hearts and contributed
generously, all sharing the vision of
creating BrainTree, Marshall-Lee said.
“The team at BrainTree wishes to thank
everyone for their support.”
Bellbird Hearing:
“Care, attention and expertise for
every step of your hearing journey”
Your hearing
is important for
everything: from driving
to holding conversations
to receiving information.
Put simply, everyone
wants to hear and be
heard.
If your hearing or
hearing aids are giving
you trouble, Bellbird
Hearing have the
expertise and experience
to be able to truly
help. “Our goal is to achieve the best
possible outcomes for all clients,”
says Sam Sloane, who doubles as the
Clinic Manager and is a fully qualified
Audiologist.
Offering hearing tests, hearing aids,
ear wax removal, hearing healthcare,
hearing aid batteries, hearing aid
repairs and FREE hearing screen
checks, Bellbird Hearing can also
access ACC funding, Veterans Affairs,
Enable funding and Government
Subsidies - ensures their clients receive
any funding they are entitled to.
Are you already an ACC-registered
hearing loss client? Sam says that no
matter which clinic you purchased
your hearing aids from, you can
arrange a free appointment with
Bellbird Hearing, as they are an
approved ACC provider. “A client’s
ACC funding belongs to them - which
means they can be seen at any ACC
approved provider.”
As a 100 per cent Kiwi-owned
clinic, Bellbird Hearing is proud to be
independent and offer more choices
for its customers.
Run by locals for locals, NZAS
qualified Audiologists Sam Sloane
and Caroline Smales offer a continuity
of care – you will see the same
audiologist who knows your hearing
needs, everytime. Our fantastic Ear
Nurse Anna Cleary will ensure your
ears are safely cleaned.
If you, a family member or friend
are having trouble with hearing,
contact Bellbird Hearing, 240 Ilam
Road, Christchurch: phone 03 351
1172.
The clinic is open Monday-Friday
from 8.30am-5pm: visit www.
bellbirdhearing.co.nz for more
information.