Are you an older person considering moving house in Christchurch. If its to downsize, move to a retirement village or even into a care home Michelle is here to help. Here's a bit about one of her recent adventures..

I had the privilege of meeting Raye & Peter at one of my open homes. We clicked straight away and they told me their story of wanting to downsize and move into a house that will allow them the freedom to do what they want without feeling guilty about it.

After working together and going through a series of 'processes' as a team, I can proudly say Raye & Peter are moving into their new home once they've come back from a well deserved holiday, in November.

I can't put into word the warm feeling it gives me, to be a part of their journey. I hope you'll let me be a part of yours one day too.

Yours faithfully,
Michelle Gledhill

Licensed Salesperson | Raine&Horne Real Estate Ltd Licensed REA (2008)

Dementia Canterbury’s ‘Walk for Dementia’ is being held on Sunday 9 March, 10.30am -12pm, at Ngā Puna Wai in Wigram. Join us to walk in memory or support of a loved one with dementia and help raise funds to support our work in the community.  Prizes for the best dressed team & spot prizes, walk for as little or as much as you want at this fun community event.  Enter by registering now at www.dementiacanterbury.org.nz or for more information contact Diane at diane@dementiacanterbury.org.nz

The Value of a Funeral and Pre-planning

Throughout our lives we mark milestones.  We celebrate birthdays, graduations, weddings and anniversaries.  A funeral is a chance to mark a major milestone in the life of a family.

Everyone has a story to tell, and even those who appear, on the surface, to have lived an ‘ordinary 'life, have things that make them unique.

Ferdi Bosch, General Manager of Seddon Park Funeral Home says his team is very aware of the need to mark the milestone of death.

“Some people tell us they don’t want a funeral because they don’t want to put their family through the stress of having to organise things at a difficult time.  But funerals are not just for the person who has passed away, they are very much for the living,” says Ferdi.

Funerals serve a greater purpose than simply saying goodbye.  They are often the spark that brings family members together.  They help to smooth conflict and reaffirm the importance of family connections in day-to-day life.  Funerals provide healing and are a good start on the journey of grief.  They provide an opportunity to express feelings without having to hide away.

Ferdi says funeral’s don’t have to be grand events.  They can be very simple.  He sees them as a chance for friends to show their support, and many families welcome hearing stories about things they might not have known about their loved ones.

“One of the best things about funerals now is that they can be done to suit the needs of the families who want to hold services in a garden, sport clubs or even in the back yard”

“Some people think that not having a funeral will shield them away from the pain of grief, but we find it actually makes it harder,” says Ferdi

“More people are choosing to write down their wishes, and this is very important.  It means they can choose their own music, venue for the service, and even things like flowers they want”

He says this takes the pressure off a family at a very difficult time because they have fewer decisions to make, and they know they’re following the wishes of their loved one.

Without doubt funerals are emotionally difficult, but they can also be a wonderful time for sharing great memories.  They can be a celebration of a good life, and a celebration of family ties.

“We encourage people to think carefully before saying they don’t want a funeral.  Today’s funerals are not the sombre affairs of days gone by, and that’s a very good thing.”

Request our free pre plan funeral booklet “a time such as this”.  This will give you the chance to put down your funeral wishes.  email us at info@seddonpark.co.nz or call us on 07 846 1561 

Maintaining a Positive Relationship with Aging Parents

Caring for aging parents can be a deeply rewarding experience, but it can also be incredibly challenging and stressful. The emotional and physical demands of caregiving can sometimes strain the parent-child relationship, leading to resentment, frustration, and even guilt.  

However, it’s crucial to remember that maintaining a positive and supportive relationship with your parents is essential for both of your well-being. A 2015 study published in the Journal of Family Psychology found that positive family relationships are associated with improved mental and physical health outcomes for both caregivers and care recipients.

Here are some tips to help you navigate the challenges of caregiving while preserving a strong bond:

1. Open and Honest Communication:

• Regularly check in: Schedule regular check-ins, whether in person, over the phone, or through video calls.
• Active listening: Practice active listening by truly focusing on your parents’ concerns, fears, and desires.
• Express your feelings: Share your own feelings and concerns openly and honestly with your parents.
• Respect their independence: As much as possible, respect your parents’ autonomy and allow them to maintain their independence. Encourage them to make choices whenever possible, even if those choices are limited.

2. Prioritize Self-Care:

Caregiver burnout is a serious concern, characterized by physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that caregivers who experience burnout are at increased risk for various health problems, including depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular disease.  

• Recognize your limits: It’s impossible to be a successful caregiver if you’re neglecting your own needs. Prior to taking on more responsibility, seek to delegate tasks or reduce your work load in other areas.
• Schedule regular breaks: Make time for yourself to relax, recharge, and pursue your own interests. This could include hobbies, exercise, spending time in nature, or simply enjoying a quiet moment to yourself.
• Seek support: Connect with other caregivers through support groups or online forums. Sharing experiences with others who understand your challenges can provide valuable emotional support and practical advice.
• Don’t hesitate to ask for help: Accept help from family, friends, or professional caregivers when needed.

3. Focus on Quality Time:

• Create meaningful experiences: Spend quality time together engaging in activities that you both enjoy, such as shared meals, walks in the park, playing games, or reminiscing about past memories.
• Create new memories: Find new ways to connect and create lasting memories together. This could involve trying new activities, visiting a museum, or simply enjoying a quiet evening together.
• Focus on the positive: Remember the good times and celebrate the joys of your relationship. Acknowledge and appreciate your parents’ strengths and accomplishments.

4. Utilize Professional Support:

• Explore home care options: Consider professional home care services like those offered by Home Support North. Their services can provide essential assistance with daily living activities, such as personal care, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, and transportation. This allows you to focus on providing emotional support and companionship while ensuring your parents receive the necessary care.  
• Home Support North offers a range of services tailored to individual needs, including:
  • Personal Care: Assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting.  
  • Home Help: Support with light housekeeping, meal preparation, and errands.  
  • Companionship: Providing social interaction and emotional support, such as engaging in conversations, playing games, and accompanying them on outings.  
  • Respite Care: Offering temporary relief for family caregivers, allowing them to take a break from their caregiving responsibilities.
  • Use our helpful tool to build the care package that perfectly fits your family’s needs: https://homesupport.co.nz/build-your-own-package/

By utilizing the services of Home Support North, you can alleviate some of the burden of caregiving, reduce stress, and prevent burnout. This allows you to spend more quality time with your parents, focusing on strengthening your relationship and creating positive memories. With this in mind, begin by using Eldernet to discover support options near you – https://www.eldernet.co.nz/providers_area/listings/2378?_top=8200

5. Practice Patience and Compassion:

• Remember that aging is a process: Understand that aging brings with it physical and cognitive changes, and be patient with your parents as they adjust to these changes.
• Show empathy and compassion: Treat your parents with the same kindness and respect that you would want to receive.
• Celebrate their strengths: Focus on their current abilities and help them maintain a sense of purpose and self-worth.

To sum up, caring for aging parents can be a challenging journey, but it can also be a deeply rewarding experience. By prioritizing open communication, self-care, and seeking support from professionals like Home Support North, you can navigate the challenges of caregiving while maintaining a strong and loving relationship with your parents.

First Laptop Donation

Computer Help NZ’s First Laptop Donation through the Community Help Project

At Computer Help NZ, we believe that technology has the power to bring people together, provide opportunities, and make a real difference in the lives of individuals and organizations. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce the very first laptop donation through our Trade-In for Charities program, part of our Community Help Project. This marks the beginning of what we hope will be a long and impactful journey of giving back to the Christchurch community and beyond.

Pictured is Matthew Gilling, owner of Computer Help, giving the very first laptop from the CHP to Rise Kids Camps representative, Rebecca.

Read more here

What's Happening ...

• Monthly Summer BBQ Lunch- Wednesday 05th January on the Patio at 12nn
• Shopping -will be on every first week of the month
• Library Visit- will be fortnightly
• Weekly Communion- Saturdays in the AM
• Lunar New Year Celebration with Lion Dance – Sunday 02 February at 2:00PM in the Atrium
• Operatunity- daytime Concert- Monday 03 February at 10:00AM
• APO Daytime Concert, Auckland Townhall- Wednesday 12 February at 11AM.
• Valentine’s Day Special with Graham- Friday 14 February at 2:30PM in the Atrium

What's Happening ...

• Monthly Summer BBQ Lunch- Wednesday 05th January on the Patio at 12nn
• Shopping -will be on every first week of the month
• Library Visit- will be fortnightly
• Weekly Communion- Saturdays in the AM
• Lunar New Year Celebration with Lion Dance – Sunday 02 February at 2:00PM in the Atrium
• Operatunity- daytime Concert- Monday 03 February at 10:00AM
• APO Daytime Concert, Auckland Townhall- Wednesday 12 February at 11AM.
• Valentine’s Day Special with Graham- Friday 14 February at 2:30PM in the Atrium

What's Happening ...

• Monthly Summer BBQ Lunch- Wednesday 05th January on the Patio at 12nn
• Shopping -will be on every first week of the month
• Library Visit- will be fortnightly
• Weekly Communion- Saturdays in the AM
• Lunar New Year Celebration with Lion Dance – Sunday 02 February at 2:00PM in the Atrium
• Operatunity- daytime Concert- Monday 03 February at 10:00AM
• APO Daytime Concert, Auckland Townhall- Wednesday 12 February at 11AM.
• Valentine’s Day Special with Graham- Friday 14 February at 2:30PM in the Atrium

What's Happening ...

• Monthly Summer BBQ Lunch- Wednesday 05th January on the Patio at 12nn
• Shopping -will be on every first week of the month
• Library Visit- will be fortnightly
• Weekly Communion- Saturdays in the AM
• Lunar New Year Celebration with Lion Dance – Sunday 02 February at 2:00PM in the Atrium
• Operatunity- daytime Concert- Monday 03 February at 10:00AM
• APO Daytime Concert, Auckland Townhall- Wednesday 12 February at 11AM.
• Valentine’s Day Special with Graham- Friday 14 February at 2:30PM in the Atrium

What's Happening ...

• Monthly Summer BBQ Lunch- Wednesday 05th January on the Patio at 12nn
• Shopping -will be on every first week of the month
• Library Visit- will be fortnightly
• Weekly Communion- Saturdays in the AM
• Lunar New Year Celebration with Lion Dance – Sunday 02 February at 2:00PM in the Atrium
• Operatunity- daytime Concert- Monday 03 February at 10:00AM
• APO Daytime Concert, Auckland Townhall- Wednesday 12 February at 11AM.
• Valentine’s Day Special with Graham- Friday 14 February at 2:30PM in the Atrium

Stay in the loop

Archer's Thorrington Care Home is situated in the heart of the local Beckenhem community, allowing you to stay connected to your neighbourhood.

Archer Thorrington Care Home is within close proximity to hospitals, and within walking distance to shopping centres, medical centres, pharmacies, cafes and other essential amenities. We have a room avaialable now so reach out today to chat. 

Bring hope and dignity to women suffering from the debilitating condition obstetric fistula. 

After a traumatic childbirth, Jamila in Nigeria had lost hope. With a tear in her birth canal, an obstetric fistula allowed bodily waste to escape uncontrollably, causing her to smell. She became depressed and isolated.

But thanks to generous supporters, Jamila received life-changing surgery at a cbm-funded hospital, bringing hope and healing to her heart.

cbm NZ works alongside people with disabilities in the world’s poorest places to fight poverty and exclusion and transform lives. Drawing on over 100 years’ experience and driven by its Christian values, cbm NZ works with the most marginalised in society to break the cycle of poverty and disability, treat and prevent conditions that lead to disability and build inclusive communities where everyone can enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.

Learn more… 

Shamir is the recognized world leader in custom-designed technology
for life improvement, fashion, performance sports, occupational single vision, and progressive lenses.
Our deep understanding and desire to address basic human pains and requirements are clearly
reflected in our truly diverse range of age and task-specific clear and sunglass lenses,
which make reading, computer and handheld digital device use, sports and urban life,
easier and more comfortable than ever. Get Shamir lenses now.

Getting out and about! 

Engaging in the community promotes a sense of purpose and fulfilment, physical activity, cognitive stimulation, enhancing overall quality of life. 

Our vans make it easy for all residents to get out. Recently residents from our Demetia Wing were treated to hot chocolates on the wharf.  

At Clare House we offer a range of care options including Rest Home, Dementia Care and Hospital Level Care. 

We invite you to come in, meet the team and we can discuss what we can do to support you loved one. 

We have a hospital bed available now... please call Lee on 027 508 3809 to come and see our beautiful 'gem' on High Street!  The food is delicious and the staff are friendly, professional and welcoming... our recently renovated facility offers fantastic activities for all to enjoy  :-)

Put Highview on your list to visit today, there is easy parking just waiting for you!

"Everything we do comes from the heart of who we are. It is not just about providing a service, it’s offering a bit more and enhancing the well-being of the residents in care".

St Clair Park is an adult care home. We cater to individuals with complex needs, including mental health, addictions, dementia and aged care.
(WE ACCEPT INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY, DEMENTIA, AGED CARE, ACC clients)

Our aim at St Clair is to assist people who live here to maintain their independence. We want them to be involved in making decisions that affect their lives, and to provide opportunities for community participation.

"Some people strengthen the society just by being the kind of people they are."

We offer a gold card discount. Say you have seen this ad when you contact us. 

Cost caring philosophy

Are you or a loved one looking for more help at home? Companionship goes beyond personal care and aims to achieve a stable bond between the client, their family, friends and the Companions CALL TODAY

Need to getaway?

Reconnect with Nature.

This is our most popular weekend “take-a-breath” stay.

The Reconnect with nature stay is a Solo or Couple Retreat 2-3 night package; where you'll be pampered throughout your stay with daily organised nature and wellness activities, breakfast and 3-course dinners included, and plenty of quiet time to nap or read books and wander the grounds.

Designed to give you and with your loved one, the space you need to celebrate, breathe, relax and reconnect, surrounded by inspiring nature.

If you are an older person just wanting the best getaway or a caregiver wanting an escape without going to far this is for you. Spots open for the January to March Season..

Check it out here: https://www.maruia.co.nz/reconnect-with-nature

We have a rest home bed available. For a viewing please call Lee on 027 508 3809 to make a time to see our 'gem' on High Street!  The meals are delicious, the staff are friendly and the facility is homely and welcoming.  

We have parking for easy access, there is a fantastic  activities program for the residents to enjoy with van rides and live entertainers... so if your loved one is looking for somewhere to go, please do come in and see us!

Ashlea Grove Rest Home is a family-owned and operated rest home located in Milton, just a 40-minute drive from Dunedin. Offering rest home and dementia care. 

For the first time in over 12 months, we have an ensuite room available in our Rest Home unit.

If you or a loved one is considering a change, feel free to stop by for a chat or give us a call. 

We're here to help with every step of your journey.

In August 2024 we celebrated our staff who have been working at Ali's, providing exceptional care and support to our clients. We celebrated with an afternoon tea for our 36 long-term employees. We enjoyed a relaxed afternoon chatting with colleagues, our Founders, and Kelly our current owner. Followed by presentations for staff who have served 5, 10 and 15 years with us. Thank you all have been so dedicated.

More recently we have implemented a new staff benefit where every staff goes into a draw to win petrol vouchers for time worked on a particular day, just one more way to show your carers how valued they are.

At Ali's, we CARE.  We not only pride ourselves on looking after our clients but also our staff and this year we introduced Ali's CARE Penapena Friendly Society.  This is like a Christmas savings club for the staff.  It means they will have support from the society for emergencies and enable them to save through the year.

Penapena is a Māori word meaning, to cherish, look after, save up, and store.  I believe this means we will be able to support ourselves and our whanau better in the coming years with the potential recession going to affect us all in different ways.

This is just some of the ways Ali's makes a difference.

We have recently redecorated Rose Avon in a modern color scheme with live plants and paintings of New Zealand landscapes.

 Breakfast in bed or full sit-down service from 8am.  

Estate Property Solutions can help take the stress out by carrying you through the process.  We can assist with all aspects of the Deceased Estates, Relocations or just to improve the quality of life in your existing property. Some of the tasks we assist with are:

Decluttering

Relocating or Downsizing

Cleaning, clearing, gardening

Rubbish removal and cleanup - even for extreme hoarding

Selling and donating of goods

Repair and maintenance work

Prepare property for sale

Storage or Shipping of goods

Our experienced team provide an honest compassionate confidential service and are able to help with all manner of tasks.  Feel free to call and discuss any of your requirements no matter how big or small.

Driver’s License:

25 November 2025, a new guidance document was released for health practitioners.  There is a portion (page 73-74) which now relates to hearing loss and it will be examined by your health practitioner.

Profound hearing loss is generally not associated with an increased risk of road crashes. This is because drivers rely more on visual information for making judgements needed for safe driving. However, hearing loss can be an issue for some drivers as they’re more likely to be distracted when they need to turn their head towards a passenger to have a conversation. This becomes more significant for commercial endorsement types because of the need for the driver to communicate with passengers while driving.

Assessment of hearing loss for P, V, I and O endorsements holders is recommended. People who hold P(Passenger), V(vehicle recovery), I (Driving instructor) or O (Testing Officer) endorsement types on their licence are more often required to communicate with passengers in the vehicle and need to be able to do this without turning their head away from the road. To be considered fit to drive, these individuals should use an alternative solution when driving.

Alternative solutions to compensate for hearing loss while driving include:

»Use of hearing aids Hearing aids can restore a patient’s hearing to an optimal level while driving. New users of hearing aids should discuss with a Member of the New Zealand Audiological Society (MNZAS) audiologist, MNZAS audiometrist, an audiologist or hearing therapist the possibility of hearing weaknesses while driving.

» Two-way communication while driving A rear-view mirror placed on the dashboard in an upside down and inward facing position can allow a patient to keep their eyes on the road and communicate with a passenger at the same time. The mirror should be placed in a position where it doesn’t cause the driver sun strike

Flexible Equipment Hire, Made Easy!

Whether it's for short-term recovery or long-term support, Auckland Health Services ensures you get what you need, when you need it.

Minimum one-week hire
Extend as needed
Hassle-free refundable long-term hire

Call us on 0800 247 472 or visit www.aucklandhealthservices.co.nz to book now!

We are accepting Respite Bookings from mid January 2025, a booking fee will be required for all advance bookings.