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Moira’s Story of Community & Care at Stevenson Village

Moira’s story – ‘I’m very lucky to be living here.” After living in a boarding house for years, Moira was delighted to have a safe, warm, and comfortable home of…

‘How to stay stronger for longer’

How to stay stronger for longer. One of the five pillars of ageing well promoted by Virtual Village East is physical wellbeing. As we discovered at our recent information morning,…

‘Glowing older’ rather than ‘growing older’.

Old age needn’t be a period of decline, says HBH Group CEO Juliette Tuckey. Rather, it can be an opportunity to promote growth and wellbeing, which is the philosophy at…

Introducing Ely Pisec: A Glimpse into the life of one of our Registered Nurses

At HBH,  we believe in the power of human connection, the strength of diverse backgrounds, and the importance of a dedicated team. Today, we’re excited to introduce to you to…

The role of community in aged care – “Care Partnerships”

“There is a difference between solitude and loneliness,” points out Juliette. “The Eden Alternative is about identifying what loneliness is and creating meaningful pathways to overcome that. It’s a relationship-directed…

COVID-19 Update: 16 August

HBH Howick Views – please read the following Covid update.

The 7 Domains of Wellbeing® and why they matter

A question that has long challenged those committed to changing the culture of aged care is …. ‘What makes life worth living, and how do we measure it’? The Eden…

Alison’s story – “giving back really aligns with my values”

Alison Hegely began volunteering with HBH back in November 1979 when it was still known as ‘Howick Baptist Home and Hospital’. Now a resident herself, her passion for volunteering continues to bring joy to other residents.

Laurie’s story – “just breathe”.

HBH apartment resident, Laurie Hamlet, celebrates his 100th birthday this month. Birthday celebrations are always special here at HBH, and reaching a century is certainly a momentous occasion. Laurie’s life has...

Downsizing your home? It’s never to soon to get organised

Thinking about selling your home and moving to a retirement village? Start early and get help from experts if you can says Sales Agent, Robyn Greer. “Selling a home can...

‘Good Grief’ – 6 tips for coping with loss

With Janet Mikkelsen of Aroha Funerals Grieving when you’ve lost a loved one is totally natural. It can be a difficult and challenging process, and it affects us all in…

HBH Howick Views achieves ‘top marks’ in recent audit

We’re very happy to report that HBH Howick Views has achieved full attainment across all areas of care in the latest Ministry of Health/ Heath Cert. audit. We were measured…

An update from HBH Howick Views Care Home

An update from HBH Howick Views on the effect of the weather and COVID-19.

6 ways to take care of your mental wellbeing

The events of the past three years have been challenging for everyone, including seniors, so it’s more important than every to look after our mental wellbeing. Read on for 6…

4 habits to help you age well and live fully

What makes you happy as you age? For most people, it’s about staying healthy enough to maintain quality of life, live as independently as possible, age well and live fully....

Audrey’s story – “Mum was very happy to move here”.

Audrey is in the hospital at HBH Howick Views and, after a long and busy life, is now suffering from dementia. Her daughter Karen shared her story with us. Audrey...

An update to visiting protocols for family and friends

Dear whānau and friends, Firstly, we would like to acknowledge those who have been affected by the recent weather extremities.  We are aware that some of our resident’s families may...

Internet and phone lines are down at Gracedale Care

3 February, 2023 Dear Family and Friends of our Gracedale residents Please note that Gracedale’s internet and phones are down. Every effort is being made to get everything up and...

HBH Howick Views and HBH Gulf Views are open for visiting

28 January, 2023 Dear Families, whānau and the wider community, We trust this brief update finds everyone across our HBH family safe and well, especially after last nights’ extreme weather...

A well-deserved MNZM for Bonnie Robinson

31st December 2022 Dear HBH family, I’m delighted to announce that Bonnie Robinson has been awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the New Zealand...

A warm welcome to our new CEO

23 December, 2022 Dear HBH family, I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Juliette Tuckey as Chief Executive Officer of the HBH Group, commencing 30th January 2022. Over the...

Farewell from our CEO, Bonnie Robinson

Recently, I was asked what I’ve enjoyed most about my role at HBH. I have to say … all of it! Seriously, it has been a total delight to work…

COVID-19 Update: 22 December

HBH Howick Views – please read the following Covid update.

COVID-19 Update: 15 December

HBH Howick Views – please read the following update.

COVID-19 Update: 12 December

HBH Howick Views Rest home and Seymour community remain in lockdown

Ruth’s story: “I feel so lucky to have joined”

A long-standing local resident, Ruth Flower has always been involved in the local community through volunteering and other groups. She was one of our founding members when Virtual Village East…

COVID-19 Update: Lockdowns continue at HBH Howick and Gulf Views

An update on lockdown at HBH Gulf Views and HBH Howick Views.

COVID-19 Update: Lockdowns at HBH Howick and Gulf Views

HBH Gulf Views and Seymour community at HBH Howick Views are in lockdown.

Alan & Caroline’s story: “They are genuinely caring”

Caroline and Alan Jarvie emigrated from Cornwall to New Zealand when their eldest son was a baby. They settled in Beachlands where they raised their family over the next couple…

Lois’ story: A “lovely, ready-made community”

Lois and her husband of 32 years had been renting an apartment on Picton Street in Howick when, five years ago, her husband passed away. “It was such a loss…

Financial abuse of older people

8 ways to avoid financial abuse as you age

From time to time, we hear the sad stories in the media of older people losing all their money to some scam or other. Unfortunately, financial abuse is one of…

CEO Bonnie Robinson leaves HBH Senior Living in good shape for the future

After over a decade at the helm of HBH Senior Living, long-serving Chief Executive Officer, Bonnie Robinson is leaving to lead another not-for-profit organisation, Presbyterian Support Northern. “It’s been a...

Homelessness in older age – Auckland’s “hidden problem”

Can you imagine being in your 80s and being given just a few weeks’ notice to find suitable accommodation in a city where rents have soared in the past decade?…

Mrs Dunbar’s story: “HBH hasn’t just given me a house, it’s a home”

A resident of HBH Senior Living, Mrs Dunbar knows a lot about rest homes. That’s because she managed one in South Africa for 20 years before moving to New Zealand...

Maureen’s story: “The staff are just amazing”

Maureen*, aged 92, moved to Auckland from Christchurch after the 2011 earthquake. She was in a retirement village there that was badly affected. Fortunately, her son was living in a...

COVID-19 Update: Changes at HBH with the end of the traffic light system

For residents and visitors to HBH there are very few changes to our current protocols.

Gwyneth’s story: “I wouldn’t be anywhere else”

Rest home resident, Gwyneth, lived in the Howick area for many years with her husband. After he died, she moved to Stevenson Village and then to HBH’s rest home four…

Jack’s story: “This is a happy place”

Jack has lived at HBH for almost three years. He lived on his own in Pakuranga for 16 years after his wife died.  When it came time for Jack to…

COVID-19 Update: Visiting will recommence in the rest home from Thursday

Visiting hours will commence as usual in the Rest Home communities from Thursday, 18th August 2022.

COVID-19 Update: Visiting update in the rest home and hospital

Please read this visiting update for the rest home and hospital.

COVID-19 Update: Visiting in the rest home and hospital

Please read the latest update on visiting at the rest home and hospital.

COVID-19 Update: HBH Hospital and Rest home are in lockdown

HBH Hosptial and Rest home are now in lockdown as of today, Saturday 6 August.

COVID-19 Update: A new case of COVID in the rest home

A resident in the rest home has COVID.

Ladies chatting

How a positive attitude to ageing can add years to your life

A positive attitude to ageing can add an average of 7.5 years to your life, according to a paper published by Yale University. Their research found that the more positive...

COVID-19 Update: Overseas travel and visiting

Visiting a resident if you have been on an overseas flight.

COVID-19 Update: Change to visiting processes

From Monday 27 June there will be changes to the visiting process.

COVID-19 Update: Sale Community is open for visiting and outings effective today, Wednesday 8 June 2022

We have been cleared to open Sale community.

COVID-19 Update: Sale Community is Locked Down effective immediately

Unfortunately a resident in our Sale community tested positive for COVID this morning.

COVID-19 Update: Second case means Inchinnan and Minerva will be locked down for at least 7 days

A second Covid case in the Inchinnan and Minerva communities means these areas will be locked down for at least 7 days and could be longer.

COVID-19 Update: Inchinnan and Minerva Communities at HBH locked down effective immediately – other communities are open for visiting for now 

This will initially be for 3 days until we can ascertain whether there are any other cases and take advice from the DHB.

Changes to outings and visiting

Dear family, friends and residents, Thank you so much to everyone who completed our survey about visiting your loved ones. As a result of your feedback, we’re making some changes...

COVID-19 Update: Gulf Views is now open for visiting

Gulf Views Rest Home has reopened for visiting.

COVID-19 Update: COVID case at Gulf Views

Gulf Views Rest Home has a Covid case and as of today, all visiting will be suspended until further notice.

COVID-19 Update: Mothers Day visiting

We will be extending our visiting hours to include Sunday so that family can visit for Mother’s Day.

Jimmy & Gael’s story: “It’s one of the loveliest communities.”

Jimmy and Gael Fong knew a couple of people who had lived at HBH Senior Living’s independent apartments over the years and they liked what they’d seen. “It doesn’t have…

Ken’s story: “It’s everything I was looking for.”

“HBH is great value for money,” says new resident Ken, who moved into one of our independent apartments at 139 on Union in January. “I’ve got the Howick club around…

Alison’s story: still teaching, still volunteering

Alison had always known HBH would be the place for her. A registered nurse, she has been involved with HBH for over 45 years, initially as a nurse and in…

COVID-19 Update: Two people can visit at a time per resident from Friday, 15 April 2022

Effective from this Friday we will now allow 2 visitors at a time per resident. Please note that the one visiting slot per week still remains, but two people can visit at that one time.

The upsides of up-skilling in older age

If there’s one thing that the pandemic has taught us, it’s the importance of having some basic computer and technology skills as you age, to ensure you’re not missing out…

10 top tips to prevent memory slips

Can’t find your car keys? Forget a loved one’s name? You’re not alone. Unfortunately, most of us can get a bit more forgetful with age. While there’s no guarantee you…

COVID-19 Update: HBH COVID protocols to remain the same

This is a reminder that even though government has put in changes around COVID rules and regulations as of midnight 4 April 2022, we as a residential aged care facility, will for now, not be changing any of our current protocols. This is to protect our most vulnerable residents.

Meet Belinda Taylor, our Clinical Operations Assistant

Belinda has worked at HBH Senior Living for over 30 years, starting out as a caregiver and now working as our Clinical Operations Assistant. This means she oversees the scheduling…

Driving Miss Daisy – always on call to help out

Driving Miss Daisy is a sponsor of HBH’s Virtual Village – a community service HBH provides to assist older people to enjoy friendship, companionship and support from other seniors in…

Lockdown highlights: games, gardening & BBQs

Two years ago, who would have thought wearing a mask would be a part of our daily wardrobe, visiting would be socially distanced, ‘lockdown’ would be one of the most...

Lynne’s story – “everyone’s just so happy here”

Lynne Riddle began volunteering at HBH Senior Living recently and loves it. “Volunteering is perfect … I get to meet all sorts of different people,” she says. Lynne and her…

COVID-19 Update: RAT test required before entry to all HBH facilities

Effective immediately, we will now be providing and assisting with RAT testing to all visitors to our facilities. With the very high number of cases in the community and the likelihood of undetected and asymptomatic positive cases being high as well, we want to be extra cautious.

COVID-19 Update: Visiting under Omicron Surge

As you will be aware, the daily case numbers for Omicron are increasing rapidly. This greatly increases the risk of Omicron coming into our facility via either staff or visitors.

COVID-19 Update: Positive case amongst staff

This staff member last worked a shift here on Monday 21st Feb, and then was isolating because they were a close contact. They tested positive last night.

COVID-19 Update: What OMICRON and Traffic Light Red means for HBH

You will all be aware, that this morning the Government announced that Omicron is in the community. At midnight tonight all of New Zealand moves to Traffic Light Red.

COVID-19 Update: Information on restricted visiting

It’s been wonderful seeing our residents’ faces light up when they receive a visit from loved ones. We want to say a big thank you to family members, volunteers and staff for making this possible and for following our visiting protocol requirements.

Why working in aged care is so important

Recently, we celebrated a colleague’s retirement after 41 years’ service to HBH Senior Living and to aged care nursing. So I thought it was time to do a general ‘shout…

COVID-19 Update: 9 December 2021

We are so pleased to inform you that we will be opening up restricted INDOOR visiting as from 10am, Monday, 13 December 2021.

Blog-Step carefully as you go out into the world

Step carefully as you go out into the world, Auckland – and remember those who can’t.

I’ve done all the Auckland lockdowns, and a tad more. Working in care services for older people we lock down earlier and come out of it later, in order to…

Don’t just embrace the grey: embrace the humanity

With lockdowns across the world and no one going anywhere much, media beauty pages have struggled for relevance. One topic they have been focusing on is the reality that for…

COVID 19 Update: 6 October

Covid 19 Update: Following the governments announcement on Monday, we have since received notification from MOH and the New Zealand Aged Care Association

COVID 19 Update: 4 October

Covid 19 Update: Following the governments announcement today we are currently awaiting further guidance from the Ministry of Health as to how this applies to aged care.

Nidhal’s story: “It’s important to know people who live close by”.

Nidhal is one of Virtual Village East’s longest standing members: she joined when our social network for seniors began in 2018. She has particularly enjoyed the Safe & Strong exercise…

When it comes to supported living, it’s quality of care that matters

If you’re considering moving into supported living, remember that it’s not the flash swimming pools, tennis courts or hotel like facilities that matter; it’s the community, the quality of the…

There’s no need to be lonely in retirement

As we enter yet another week of lockdown, it’s becoming apparent that this is a situation we need to get used to. But what does it mean for seniors? If…

Prue’s story: care at the highest level

“Living at HBH has given me a whole new respect for aged care. The staff are amazing and the way HBH prioritises the residents’ wellbeing is impressive – Mum is…

Peter & Cath’s story: “HBH has been wonderful.”

Peter’s wife, Catherine, had been in Middlemore Hospital after suffering from a stroke. She wasn’t well enough to return home, so Peter and his daughter chose HBH for her to…

Finding her Eden: Allison’s story

“I haven’t adequate words to tell you what it means to us as a family to have Allison living at HBH.  She has come alive again in a remarkable way.”…

What’s a “Virtual Village”? See one in Howick!

It’s a network of friendship and support for seniors still living in the community. HBH Senior Living has a proud history of innovation, and Virtual Village East takes that to…

COVID 19 Update: 19 August

Covid 19 Update: Please be prepared for longer than 7 days.

COVID 19 Update: 17 August

HBH has gone into full lockdown following the Prime Ministers announcement this evening.

A healthy past-time: residents enjoy our ‘village gym’

HBH’s physiotherapy facilities have recently been expanded into a gym for residents and staff, and it’s certainly being put to good use. HBH Senior Living has long had a well-equipped...

A philosophy of care that extends to the whole community

Here at HBH Senior Living, we’re about supporting all older people to age well – not just within the gates of our retirement village – but also within the wider...

Why sooner is better than later for those big life decisions

Don’t leave the hard decisions about your life until the last minute, says Bonnie Robinson, CEO of HBH Senior Living. Take control and start planning for “I’ll be alright” rather...

COVID 19 Update: 24 June

In light of recent outbreaks of Covid-19 in Wellington and Sydney, HBH have made the decision to restrict access to visitors from these areas until further notice.

COVID-19 Update: 17 June

We are pleased to advise that HBH residents will receive the second COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday 23 June 2021. 

COVID-19 Update: 15 April

Important information regarding the travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand.

COVID-19 Update: 19 March

HBH Senior Living will move to Level 1 as from Saturday, 20 March 2021, 10am.

COVID-19 Update: 11 March 2021

HBH will move from Lockdown to Restricted Visiting as of Friday, 12 March 2021 at 10am

COVID-19 Update: 5 March 2021

As you know today the government announced that Auckland will move back to Level 2 at 6am on Sunday. HBH has decided that in order to keep our residents and staff as safe as possible, HBH will remain in lockdown until Friday, 12th March  – 10am. We will confirm this date and time on Thursday 11th.

COVID-19 Update: HBH is in full lockdown – Alert Level 3

We are back in Lockdown. Tonight the government put Auckland into Level 3 and announced that all aged residential care facilities had to go into total lockdown.

COVID-19 Update: 24 Feb 2021 – Level 2 Announcement

We are back at Level 2 as of today. Due to the fact that there are new community cases, and they are close to Howick in terms of locations we have decided to go back into Level 2.

COVID-19 Update: 18 Feb 2021 – Level 2 Announcement

Following the Prime Ministers announcement yesterday HBH will move to Level 2 with restricted visiting from Saturday 20th February, 2021.

COVID-19 Update: 15 Feb 2021 – Level 3 Announcement

Full lockdown at HBH Senior Living

COVID-19 Update: 2 Feb 2021

Further to our communication to you last week, we wish to advise that we will be returning to Level 1 tomorrow – Wednesday 3rd February. Given that there have been…

COVID-19 Update: 28 Jan 2021

Following the new cases of COVID-19 in the community on the North Shore this week we have put in place some new restrictions.  Should there be further community cases, we…

The importance of planning ahead

with Bonnie Robinson, CEO Planning ahead for all stages of our retirement years is vitally important, says HBH Senior Living CEO, Bonnie Robinson. Rather than waiting until you reach a…

COVID-19 Update: 5 Oct 2020 – Level 1 Announcement

The PM announced that Auckland will go to Level 1 on Thursday, 8 October 2020.
This means that we can return to ‘life as normal’ with a few exceptions – since Covid-19 is still around.

COVID-19 Update: 21 Sept 2020

Level 2 at HBH

As you will have heard, the Government announced that Auckland will move from Level 2.5 to Level 2 from midnight Wednesday.

COVID-19 Update: 8 Sept 2020

Changes/Clarifications regarding Restricted Visiting
Thanks for your co-operation during our first week of restricted visiting. Having had a week’s experience, we are tweaking how we do this and also want to reinforce some things. Please read the following as it contains important information.

COVID-19 Update: 4 Sept 2020

Update on Covid-19 Level 2.5 – this remains until 16th of September As you may have heard today the government is keeping Auckland at Level 2:5 and the rest of NZ…

Lockdown Moments

During lockdown we thought we'd share some of what's been happening at HBH. From exercising to wig day to card making - there has been plenty going on. We would...

COVID-19 Update: 26 Aug 2020

We are moving to Level 2 (Restricted visiting) on Monday 31st Here is how restricted visiting will work once we are able to do this – please read as this…

COVID-19 Update: 24 Aug 2020

Level Three and Level Two As you will be aware, this afternoon the Prime Minister announced that Auckland will remain in Level Three until midnight on Sunday. For HBH this…

HBH Senior Living buys Gulf Views Rest Home

Media Release Monday 17th August 2020.   HBH Senior Living (Howick Baptist Healthcare) has purchased Gulf Views, a boutique Howick rest home established in 1991 by the late Scotch Macdonald…

COVID-19 Update: Stevenson Village

12 August 2020: A letter from Bonnie Robinson, CEO to Stevenson Village Residents and Family Members Dear Stevenson Village Residents and Family Members Level 3 at Stevenson Village As you are…

COVID-19 Update: 139 on Union

12 August 2020: A letter from Bonnie Robinson, CEO to 139 on Union Residents and Family Members Dear 139 on Union Residents and Family Members We are in Lockdown As you…

COVID-19 Update: HBH Residents

A letter from Bonnie Robinson, CEO to Residents and Family Members of HBH Senior Living Dear Residents and Family Members We are back in Lockdown As most of you are…

Our thanks for keeping our residents safe and well

Thank you to our wonderful HBH Senior Living community for your patience, support and understanding during lockdown. Our number one goal was to keep COVID-19 out of HBH and we...

Staying in touch: the importance of technology

One of the big lessons we all learned during the COVID-19 crisis was the importance of technology to keep in touch with our loved ones. Many of our residents have…

All local seniors welcome to join Virtual Village East

Virtual Village East is a social network designed to help seniors stay connected and supported through senior-friendly events, activities and mutual support. And it’s not limited to those living at…

An exciting new role for Trish

Trish Mataitini has worked as part of the household team at HBH for nearly 20 years and has recently been appointed as a Care partner in the Lifestyle team. “My…

Seniors enjoy ‘virtual’ catch-ups during lockdown

One of the many benefits of joining Virtual Village East is that older people can remain at home and still stay connected with other seniors in the community, whatever happens….

Alert Level 1 update: 9 Jun 2020

We are at Level 1. Yeah!  This does mean a lot more freedom for everyone, including staff and residents at HBH. However due to the very frail and vulnerable situation…

Alert Level 2 update: 28 May 2020

Updated guidelines for visiting   Reduced hours on Monday of Queens Birthday weekend On Monday, 1st June (Queens Birthday) visiting will be in the afternoon only 1pm to 4:30pm. Slight change to…

Alert  Level 2 update: 18 May 2020

Guidelines for Visiting   Rest Home and Hospital The facility will be open to visitors, however, strict restrictions and guidelines must be followed: All visitors must enter through the hospital…

Alert Level 3 update: 29 Apr 2020

HBH remains in lockdown In accordance with the Director General of Health’s guidelines on Level 3, HBH Senior Living will remain closed to visitors. The only exception is for residents…

Meet Yvonne Fisk, our new Chaplain

Yvonne was ordained as a minister in the (Wesleyan)  and Methodist church in 2005. Before that, she had already been involved in the church as a lay preacher and volunteer…

Meet Adrianne Allen, our Clinical Quality Coordinator

Adrianne worked as a Comprehensive Registered Nurse for twenty-six years before joining HBH Senior Living, after completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Science. Despite having worked in many fields…

Gracedale gets top marks for aged care – again!

Gracedale Care is the award-winning aged care facility in Mt Roskill that’s managed by HBH Senior Living. Recently, Gracedale was audited by the Ministry of Health and was awarded four…

Caring for the Rainbow Community, in every little way.

Many of HBH Senior Living’s staff recently undertook another round of Silver Rainbow Training, the second year that we’ve done this. “We want to ensure that we’re fully aware of…

Feeling right at home: our smart new uniform

While HBH Senior Living became a fully accredited Eden Alternative facility last year (one of only two in Auckland), the Eden journey of learning and growth never stops. One recent…

The power of a warm welcome

Jenny Moore is HBH Senior Living’s social worker and she also has another equally important role: meeting with families when a parent needs aged care or when they’re looking to…

Keeping our residents cared for and connected

Despite these difficult and uncertain times, we wanted to reassure the families of our residents that we’re still taking excellent care of your loved ones. We’d like to acknowledge the…

COVID-19 Update: 26 Mar 2020 

We’re taking care of your loved ones HBH Senior Living is in lockdown until further notice. This means: No visitors at all to our Rest Home, Hospital, Retirement Village or…

Village to Village conference highlights need for meaning and purpose as we age

“To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.” - Mother Teresa Virtual Villages are a relatively new concept in New Zealand, but in the USA...

A more holistic approach to dementia care

with Chris Dunlop, Head of Nursing, and Anila Govind, Registered Nurse and Head of Nursing for the Minerva community Principle 7 of the Eden Alternative focuses on medical treatment and the…

The human touch

Sensory stimulation a vital part of dementia care Human touch is essential for anyone at any age: they say we all need at least ‘a hug a day’. Yet as...

Let’s eliminate ageism

Ageism may be the last acceptable form of discrimination, says HBH Senior Living CEO Bonnie Robinson. “These days, most people know they should not discriminate or be prejudiced, but it…

Top marks for care

In the last couple of months, HBH Senior Living has received two endorsements that acknowledge the quality of care we deliver. In mid-June, we were awarded the final two Eden…

Passing on the volunteering bug

John McKillop, our mini-van driver, is just one of our wonderful volunteers at HBH Senior Living. He helps out for about 10 hours a week, and enjoys it so much…

Cuddles with Coco

Sandy moved into the rest home at HBH Senior Living six months ago. One of the main attractions was that she could bring her dog with her. “I’d had Piechi,...

Resident Rebels

Principle 8 of the Eden Alternative is about bringing decision-making closer to the residents. Last year, residents from each of the five communities in the HBH rest home joined together…

Wise leadership essential to Eden Alternative

with Bonnie Robinson, CEO As you may know, HBH Senior Living was recently awarded the last two of the ten Eden Alternative principles, one of which is ‘wise leadership’. We…

Ageism: is it the last acceptable form of discrimination?

“The Eden Alternative puts value on your life, no matter what age you are – and that’s a great thing. “In some cultures within Western society, we value youth,” says…

Working Together

Barbara Davis, a member of the Establishment Committee for Virtual Village East, spoke at the recent meeting of local Community groups leaders. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce…

Resident’s son one of RAF’s ‘high flyers’

Here at HBH Senior Living, we love hearing stories about the interesting and fulfilling lives many of our residents have led - and the stories about their families too. One...

John McKillop: passing on the ‘volunteering bug’

“Volunteers are unpaid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.”  – Anonymous John McKillop is one of our wonderful volunteers at HBH Senior Living. Initially he volunteered for…

Volunteering ‘hugely rewarding’ for caring couple

“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr. Here at HBH Senior Living, we’re very fortunate to have many…

Variety truly is the spice of life – at any age

As an occupational therapist at HBH Senior Living, Carol Turner is closely involved in the implementation of the Eden Alternative at HBH Senior Living. She’s seen the difference it makes…

Kind-hearted volunteers make all the difference

Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart.”-  Elizabeth Andrew There are many things that make HBH Senior Living such a special place – and among…

Volunteering the key to a more fulfilled life

“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” – Winston Churchill Volunteers are a vital part of HBH Senior Living’s philosophy of…

New online tool helps seniors stay connected

In 2018, HBH Senior Living’s CEO, Bonnie Robinson, participated in the Global Women Breakthrough Leaders Programme. Just 30 women leaders across New Zealand are selected for this intensive year-long journey…

Quality of care and quality of life: what’s the difference?

In past years, the focus of aged care facilities was on ‘quality of care’, says HBH Senior Living CEO, Bonnie Robinson. These days, HBH and other like-minded care facilities want…

Rest Home residents give back to Bellyful

Principle 4 of the Eden Alternative is about helping to overcome the three plagues of old age – boredom, loneliness and helplessness – by encouraging and creating opportunities for residents…

HBH’s young volunteers keep life interesting

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others’?” – Martin Luther King, Jr. One of the key principles of the Eden Alternative adopted by HBH...

Always a welcoming smile

If you’ve visited HBH, you’ll have seen the welcoming face of Jenny Cribbens, our receptionist for the past eleven years. “I’m the first face that people see when they arrive,…

Donation music to our ears

A huge ‘thank you’ to the Howick Freemasons Charitable Trust for donating over $8,000 to help 25 more residents participate in Playlist for Life. Playlist for Life enables older people,…

Bonnie beams into the UN 

Our very own Bonnie Robinson will attend the next United Nations forum in March – virtually!    Bonnie is part of a delegation of Presbyterian women attending the UN Women’s...

The path to a new form of community…

In 2018, HBH Senior Living and East Health Trust established Virtual Village Howick, based on successful virtual villages for seniors overseas. Designed to support older people to overcome loneliness and…

Ageing is not something that goes away

With Joyce Kraak, Independent Apartment resident since 2013 For Joyce Kraak, the secret to living and Ageing well is about giving back and thinking about others more than yourself. A...

Furry friends – the best medicine for loneliness

With Lynne Fisher, Activities Assistant, HBH Senior Living Lynne Fisher loves her busy and varied and role as an activities assistant at HBH Senior Living. During her three years in...

‘Living well, ageing well’ #3: Think yourself back to positive

With Eve Tate, HBH Senior Living Resident A childhood illness meant that Eve Tate has had a lifetime of learning how to be resilient and overcome challenges. It hasn’t held...

The halls are alive with the sound of music

Once a month, HBH Senior Living’s much-loved Day Programme hosts a very special event –  a singalong accompanied on the piano by Margaret Williamson. Margaret has been playing the piano…

The importance of staying connected

After 21 years of working at HBH Senior Living, Sophie Flavell has seen many changes. Especially since the Eden Alternative was introduced 5 years ago, she’s noticed a real difference…

Transport forum drives ways to help Howick’s seniors

A transport forum and morning tea for Howick’s senior citizens held on Friday 30th November proved to be a great success. Hosted by the Virtual Village Howick, the event was...

Leading with Justice

The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. — Martin Luther King Jr1 In the 1960s my father, a young Presbyterian minister studying in the...

Justice & compassion at the heart of HBH Senior Living

  Caring for older people in the Howick community – including the vulnerable and marginalised – has always been an integral part of HBH Senior Living’s mission. And the recent...

The Eden Alternative: from institution to involvement

In our last blog, we explained how The Eden Alternative was founded to alleviate the problems of loneliness, boredom and helplessness experienced by older people. In this article, Juliette Tuckey...

Howick’s first Virtual Village event on 30 November

East Health Trust and HBH Senior Living have established a ‘Virtual Village’ for seniors in Howick. Based on successful virtual villages overseas, this initiative is designed to support older people…

‘Living well, ageing well’ #2: Decide to live a happy life

In our last article, HBH Senior Living CEO, Bonnie Robinson, talked about the importance of maintaining a good attitude as you age. In this issue, we meet someone who knows…

Creating Eden: how the Eden Alternative came about

The Eden Alternative is a philosophy of care that aims to transform residential care by addressing the ‘three plagues’ of aging: loneliness, helplessness and boredom. The philosophy was founded by...

Update on the HBH Eden journey

Many of you will have seen Juliette Tuckey at HBH during the past few months, often with Coco the dog hot on her heels! Juliette has joined the team to…

The first year anniversary for Stevenson Village

It has been a year since HBH purchased Stevenson Village and the community is going from strength to strength. Helen Parkinson, the social co-ordinator, visits each week and spends time with the residents.

Congratulations to our long-serving staff

One of the wonderful things about HBH Senior Living is the length of service of so many of our staff. In this issue, we celebrate the 2018 work anniversaries of…

A lot of love goes into HBH’s laundry service

In this occasional series, we look at different jobs within HBH and what they involve. This month, we focus on our friendly, hard-working laundry staff – Marie Palma, Colleen Hill…

Café mornings popular at 139 on Union

A new café is becoming a must-go destination for residents, friends and families of 139 on Union, HBH Senior Living’s independent apartments.

‘Living well, ageing well’ #1: The power of attitude

Enjoying old age takes good planning, good support and a great attitude, says HBH Senior Living CEO, Bonnie Robinson. Bonnie believes it’s important to plan ahead, not just for the…

Beating the winter blues

The team who run the HBH activities programme are an energetic bunch who keep residents active and involved throughout the week. Last week they organised a blue-themed day as a…

A very special role for a very special lady

A social worker for the last 18 years at HBH Senior Living, Jenny Moore has a crucial role as the link between the local community and HBH. She’s the first…

Porridge, bananas & ice cream – the recipe for a long life?

Rhys Runciman reckons the secret to living a long and happy life is simple: a daily dose of porridge, banana and ice cream. And having just turned 102, we think…

Final two Eden Alternative principles underway

The Eden Alternative is a philosophy of care that aims to put the needs of older people at the centre of everything we do. The goal is to ‘de-institutionalise’ aged…

A special visit from some feathered friends

On Friday April 20th, a group of volunteers from the Auckland Metro Bird Club created a very special ‘bird show and tell’ morning for our residents. They brought along a…

Great turnout for Virtual Village information morning

On Friday May 11th, HBH Senior Living and East Health Trust held an information morning so that interested locals could learn more about our Virtual Village initiative. HBH Senior Living…

The busy life of a CEO…

In this occasional series, we look at different jobs within HBH and what they involve. This month, we look at the busy and diverse role of Bonnie Robinson, our CEO….

HBH volunteers nominated for awards

At HBH Senior Living, we couldn’t do what we do without the support of our wonderful, hard-working volunteers. So we’re thrilled that several of our volunteers have been nominated for…

A warm welcome to Jejson Jose

Meet Jejson Jose, our new Quality Manager. Jejson joined HBH in December, following a year working in a similar role at the Selwyn Foundation. A trained Registered Nurse, Jejson’s new…

A fond farewell to Lyn Ramsay

After 30 years working across many roles at HBH Senior Living, Quality Manager Lyn Ramsay has embarked on her next exciting role – retirement! Lyn started working part-time at HBH…

Gracedale: a welcome addition to the family

Gracedale is a 36-bed facility owned by Grace Trust, a private trust with strong links to the local Church of Christ congregation. In early 2017, representatives from Gracedale’s Board approached…

A big Christmas ‘thank you’ to our volunteers!

HBH Senior Living has over 130 volunteers who play a crucial role in the wellbeing of residents and assisting staff to provide exceptional care. Their contribution is always hugely appreciated…

Virtual Village is virtually a go

The ‘virtual village’ initiative outlined in the last issue of The Beacon is progressing well and we are seeking feedback from the Howick community to find out whether a Village…

Best of both worlds for apartment residents

The days are full and varied for the residents of HBH Senior Living’s independent apartments. A recent foray into line dancing was just one of the many activities initiated by…

Introducing Sharon, caregiver and all-round great person

Our wonderful caregivers help our residents with most aspects of daily life, from getting up and dressed for breakfast, to stopping for a chat or spending one-on-one time with them….

Hungry for food or company? Come to Milly’s cafe

Introducing Milly’s cafe, a fantastic new initiative from staff member, Milly Pearce. After working in the household team for five years, Milly recently came up with the idea of creating…

Caregiver Celebrates 40 Years at HBH Senior Living

Hillary Payne can never forget 1977. It was the year Star Wars hit the screens worldwide and Apple launched its first personal computer. But the then 16 year old was…

A Bellyful of help

Bellyful is a local charity for new mums that provides meals for families with new-borns or young children who are struggling with illness. Our Rest Home residents provided much needed…

40 years young … and still going strong!

This month, HBH Senior Living celebrates 40 years since the doors of Howick Baptist Home and Hospital (as it was then known) were first opened in 1977. A great deal…

A new lease of life for Stevenson Village

In 2017, HBH Senior Living took over Stevenson Village, a 36-unit retirement village in Howick that provides affordable, social housing for older people. Built in 1975 by Sir William and…

Day Programme Audit

All HBH’s services are audited by the DHBs or Ministry of Health on a regular 3 to 4 yearly cycle. In June HBH’s Day Programme was audited. The results were…

Appreciating the culture of our Chinese community

HBH staff recently took part in a cultural training session that focused on our Chinese community. With a growing Chinese population in Howick, we are keen to foster strong links…

A virtual village for Howick

If you walk down the corridor in the Rest Home right now you will see a sign on the spare office door which says “Hive HQ”. Until February this office…

Rocco gives HBH the paws up

Meet Rocco the cat, a relatively new resident at HBH. Rocco previously lived in a house next door and used to visit HBH on a regular basis. He loved it…

New tenant for old home support building

From the beginning of October you will notice some new things happening in the old home support building across the driveway at HBH. Tranquillity Mind and Body has leased the…

HBH Senior Living rescues social housing village

The latest edition of INsite Magazine featured an article about HBH Senior Living’s purchase of Stevenson Village. Below is an excerpt from the article. Read the full story here. “Homelessness…

Apartment living – all care, no worries.

We’re often asked what it’s like living at HBH Senior Living so we thought we’d ask our residents to share their own experiences. We talked to some of the members…

Auckland Metro Bird Club

On Thursday 13th April Vince Huston and myself ran one of the Auckland Metro Bird Club’s pet bird care meetings with members of HBH Senior Living. The aim of this…

Passionate volunteers a big part of the HBH family

HBH Senior Living has a large number of volunteers who donate their time to help care for our residents and clients. Our Day Programme has a roster of around 12 regular…

Eden Alternative – Two to Go

As you are aware HBH Senior Living is an Eden Alternative Registered facility. The Eden Alternative is a philosophy of care that identifies the major problems faced by older people…

Playlist for life

Hi there, my name is Jo. My mum Wendy has had dementia now for 11 years. Music has always been Mum’s “thing”. As a child and young adult Mum loved…

Silver Rainbow training for HBH Senior Living

On Wednesday 1st March, 20 staff from HBH Senior living, including the CEO, manager, nurses, and caregivers participated in an afternoons training  on cultural diversity and safety for the Rainbow Community…

HBH Senior Living welcomes the Nihon Daycare Centre from Japan

At the end of January, HBH Senior Living hosted a delegation from Nihon Daycare Centre in Japan, a provider of day programmes for children and older people. Due to changes…

Just do it – make decisions in time to enjoy them

If you are contemplating a move to a Village or Care what information do you need, how do you make that decision and when? Recently we decided to re-vamp our…

HBH Senior Living buys Stevenson Village

Monday 19th December 2016 Media Release HBH Senior Living (formerly called Howick Baptist Healthcare) has purchased Stevenson Village, a 36 unit complex providing low cost housing for older people. The…

Our wonderful Open Day

On Sunday 20 November we opened our doors to the community. Along with a craft sale, secondhand book sale and sausage sizzle, we gave tours of the facilities and talks…

Medi-Map 

A new electronic medication tool is improving the way HBH Senior Living nurses administer medication. Medi-Map was implemented throughout HBH Senior Living early this year and has rapidly increased efficiency in medicine…

Domains of Wellbeing

As part of our Eden work towards Principle 7 you will be seeing Domains of Wellbeing posters popping up in residents’ rooms. A question that has long challenged those of us…

Laughter and camaraderie

Walk through Sale Community and you’ll discover warm, welcoming spaces full of conversation, friendship and good humour. Sale is home to 27 residents and a range of staff including registered and…

When residential care is a change for the good

I was passing the gathering area outside the Rest Home dining room yesterday afternoon. As I approached I could hear laughter – and cheeping…

Minimising medication to optimise wellbeing

Every month at HBH a dedicated team gets together to undertake a medication review. Director of Nursing, Chris Dunlop, leads the review and is accompanied by the General Practitioners, Pharmacist…

Hot off the press – another four Eden principles achieved!

We’re delighted to announce that HBH was awarded another four Eden principles on June 1st. The Eden Alternative is a culture change that encourages and enables care facilities to move…

Do you have a waiting list?

This is the question we get asked a lot at HBH as people look for a care facility. Average occupancy (number of residents compared to number of bedrooms available) in…

Activities encourage participation and engagement

This month we profile the HBH team responsible for facilitating residents’ activities. HBH Registered Occupational Therapist Carol Turner leads a team of seven, who facilitate a range of activities for…

Mandy thinks HBH is just purrrfect

The Sale Community has recently welcomed a new resident, Mandy, a six-year-old ginger cat. Mandy moved to HBH when her previous owner went into residential care in another facility and…

Deck the Halls

Once again, Christmas was a significant celebration at HBH this year. Decorations abounded, with volunteers from the local Rotary club helping to set up and decorate

HBH Lights up for Diwali

The first week of November last year was full of colour, music and dancing at HBH with the annual Diwali celebrations. Hospital caregiver, Yogi Archer and a team of staff,…

Eden Update

HBH continues on its Eden journey. This year HBH will be going for another three Eden Principles with the Eden Visit (audit) scheduled for the 1st of June. The three…

For a Brighter View

A number of hospital residents at HBH Senior Living Care and Village in Howick were grateful to receive eight murals designed and painted by local students to brighten the view from their bedroom windows.

DHB Nursing Award

Congratulations to Chris, HBH’s Director of Nursing. Chris was awarded the Counties Manukau DHB award for services to residential care.

HBH Volunteers Add Colour

From arranging fresh flowers, running bingo sessions and Happy Hour to painting vibrant murals, our HBH volunteers add colour in a variety of ways to the lives of our residents. Their help was recognised recently with a wine and cheese party to coincide with nationwide Volunteer Week celebrations.

Audit Results Confirmed

Four more years of excellent care. Our audit results were tentative when our last Beacon was published, but we’re thrilled to now say HBH has received four years certification – the highest level available.

Eden Alternative

Welcoming spontaneity and empowerment. As you know, HBH is working towards becoming an Eden Alternative facility. The Eden Alternative approach to residential care seeks

All Aboard HBH

There is a special story behind the names of our units that highlights the pioneering history of Howick. As early settlers began arriving in New Zealand, Governor Grey requested a military force from Britain to help calm unrest.