On a roll at Ryman

BEST MULTI-FACILITY PROVIDER RYMAN HEALTHCARE NATIONWIDE

For the third year running, Ryman Healthcare has won Aged Advisor's People’s Choice Award for best multifacility provider.

Spanning from Whangarei to Invercargill, Ryman Healthcare aims to emulate a familyorientated approach at their 36 retirement villages.

Co-founder Kevin Hickman says the priority has always been providing care “good enough for mum or dad.” And this vision translates into how the team intentionally invest in both their staff and residents. Ryman Healthcare believes happy staff make for happy residents. Consequently, they claim their focused training phase for new employees is imperative to the wellbeing of the entire village – imparting shared values, providing staff with the right tools and consistently looking for ways to help them develop.

Villa ger manager Merrin Jack also attests their loyal team of fans can be attributed to the kind, empathetic and professional care from staff. With an overall rating of 92% across more than 600 reviews, Ryman are confident they are meeting a standard of excellence. In one review, a resident says the management is intentional and thorough, identifying “excellent care, thoughtfulness and response to any suggestions made.” However, it’s not just the staff but the facilities that appear to be popular with residents.

The facilities offered in Ryman villages include independent apartments and townhouses, serviced apartments, and rest home, hospital and dementialevel care. Although each village varies in size and facilities, each is purpose-built, surrounded by gardens and amenities. Ranging from swimming pools to movie theatres to cafes, Ryman Healthcare hopes they can provide opportunities for all residents to get involved in something they enjoy.

Although the COVID-19 outbreak has had a huge impact nationally, Ryman believes it has highlighted their excellence in service. During the outbreak, staff were purposeful about creating safe havens for their residents. Delivered groceries, complimentary morning and afternoon teas, happy hours in bags and regular flu jabs were organised to give residents comfort during a difficult season.

Overall, Ryman Healthcare strives to be a place of excellence and commitment to exceptional relationship-focused care. Through rolling out new initiatives and focusing on new technologies in the future, they promise only bigger and better to come.

Best Small Retirement Village Remuera Rise North Island

Remuera Rise has been voted Aged Advisor’s Best Small Retirement/Lifestyle Village in the North Island.

As a boutique home, Remuera Rise also has the opportunity to offer varying levels of care. Describing themselves as small and intimate, staff can quickly notice and resolve any unusual behaviour in their residents. The benefit to their specturm of care is it allows couples to live under the same roof while requiring different kinds of support.

Staff also feel welcomed and cared for in the village, with their sales executive, Linda saying it is a stand out village to be a part of.

“I have worked at Remuera Rise during the construction and prior to the opening in June 2013. We are a close team; the residents and staff are my friends and family… I feel very blessed to be a part of this close community.”

Consisting of 116 two and three bedroom architecturally designed villas, the team at Highfield believes their beautiful, supportive and spacious estate is a place people are proud to live in.

Careful planning has gone into “providing the facilities and environment that allow you the freedom to live the lifestyle you enjoy”. Developed by the Fladgate family they’re deeply fond of the Waikato region and the beauty it has on offer.

Remuera Rise has been voted Aged Advisor’s Best Small Retirement/ Lifestyle Village in the North Island. Seven stories high in the heart of Auckland, staff claim their village could easily be mistaken for a 5-star hotel.

58 independent apartments for residents and 12 bed Care Home and Guest suites for visitors are distributed throughout the highrise apartment block. Exclusive use of the café, restaurant, large lounge, library, pool, gym, craft room and hairdressing salon is offered to residents and guests.

Village Manager Julie Pelling says the key to their award-winning home is their location and continuum of care. Being in central Newmarket gives residents direct access to the waterfront, museums, parks, specialists and hospitals. Shopping and public transport is readily accessible, allowing residents the independence to amuse themselves in the city.

With both parties incredibly proud of the award, there are plans to continue refurbishing and upgrading facilities to make Remuera Rise even more welcoming and luxurious for residents.

Best Large Retirement Village Highfield Country Estate North Island

High field Country Estate has been voted winner of Aged Advisor’s People’s Choice Award for Best Large Village in the North Island.

So, at the heart of their design, is a desire to maximise enjoyment and independence for their residents through the gorgeous landscape. All villas are positioned to maximise the sun, decorated with neutral toning and open onto beautiful stonewalling and aesthetic planting. Their hope is these well-maintained and highspec homes offer a safe and secure place for their community to flourish.

One resident rejoices they’ve found a “real communityfriendly, helpful and fun...from management and directors to throughout the village.”

This aligns with villager manager Linda Otta's vision for their home: always supporting residents to the best of their ability. The pride in receiving the award is only matched by the desire to continue the good work and keep investing in their residents.

Best Aged Care Up To 40 Beds Cook Street Nursing Care North Island

For the second time, Cook Street Nursing Care Centre is the North Island winner of Aged Advisor’s Best Aged Care up to 40 beds award.

Cook Street believes the size of their village is a large factor in staff being able to provide such excellent service. Having only 30 residents means no one gets lost in a busy, huge place. Therefore, staff have time to care for residents, meet visitors and know everyone’s unique needs.

Because each resident is known to staff, the team can also recognise very quickly if individuals need support. By maintaining open door access between all residents and staff, their hope is anything that needs organising can be easily managed.

Operated and owned privately, they provide a mixture of rest home and hospital level care across their 30 rooms.

The Palmerston North village believe it’s the friendly, compassionate and professional people that make the home what it is. Village Manager Anna Blackwell attests their low staff turn-around is proof their team is invested and connected in their facility.

At Cook Street, their focus is building community with not just residents but their families too. One resident’s child says they couldn’t have asked for a better place for their mother:

“The care by all staff, carers, nurses, owner etc was exemplary, the extent of effort and care to make her feel loved cared and valued was phenomenal. Just would like to say how grateful we are for such a caring place for the last stages of life for our mother Communication was excellent and their knowledge of her daily changes, requirements etc were impressive.”

Additionally, being privately owned by a registered nurse, there are high medical and aged care standards being adhered to in the home. Staff outnumber residents, ensuring no corners are cut during their stay.

With renovations underway, they hope their facilities will begin to further reflect their award-winning standard of care.

Best Aged Care Over 40 Beds Malyon House North Island

For the fourth year running, Malyon House has claimed Aged Advisor’s Best Aged Care over 40 beds award for the North Island.

As the only independently owned care facility in Mt Maunganui, they believe this is what sets them apart.

Founded in 1996, Malyon House is a small rest home and hospital with a commitment to excellence in care. Each room is spacious, clean and modern – designed to be maintained easily for their residents.

As an independent facility, care manager Amy Munro says their difference is a unique family atmosphere, where individuals feel welcomed and wanted. A homely environment for both residents and their families is the key goal of their 'house'. She believes this is achieved through staff exemplifying dignity, privacy, comfort, kindness, respect and love.

One reviewer writes, “My Dad saw out the last of his life in Malyon House and we could not have wished for better care. The care of Dad and the support of our family in the last days was well above anything we could have expected.”

By using their experience and abilities, Malyon House staff also aim to meet the vast physical, cultural and psychological needs of their residents. The balance of encouraging independence and also ensuring the wellbeing of each resident is important to their team. Looking towards the future, they hope to maintain award-winning service and reclaim their title again next year. 2021 is also the company’s 25th anniversary, so a celebration is planned for all the people who have contributed to their success.