Checking the mail now part of special care unit’s daily routine

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Amid a sea of purple, the official colour of Alzheimer’s and Dementia awareness, a very special unveiling took place in the special care unit at Ryman’s Keith Park Village this week.

Resident Garth Scanlan and his daughter Sharon Mitchell had the honour of cutting the ribbon to unveil a startlingly accurate replica of a NZ Post mailbox.

The mailbox was one of two that had been lovingly crafted by a group of independent residents in the village workshop, with the presentation scheduled during September to mark Alzheimer's Awareness Month.

Village Manager Kim Dawson thanked Sharon for inspiring the idea, which had set off a chain reaction of positivity throughout the village.

“The timing of Sharon’s suggestion coincided perfectly with the launch of our residents’ workshop so I put the idea to the very kind and, as it turns out, talented members of the workshop,” Kim said, praising the workshop team of Gary, Graeme, Earl, Brian, Rob, Wayne and Noel for their outstanding effort.

“The dedication and care they’ve poured into this project speaks volumes about their heart and commitment.”

It was because of Garth’s regular routine of walking from the house to the letterbox three times a day that the idea came about.

Sharon said it was a 100m round trip which gave Garth a bit of exercise and helped keep him mobile after losing his driver’s licence.

After Garth moved into the special care unit at Keith Park, Sharon suggested her idea to Kim.

“I was thinking of ways to get Dad moving about a bit more and because that was his thing that he always liked to do I thought it would be cool to have a letterbox somewhere,” says Sharon.

“I thought there could be a letterbox between the two special care units, so the residents could write to each other.”

Kim Dawson set the challenge to some of the village’s independent residents and the workshop team quickly set about their creation.

Resident Gary Sutcliffe says he and the rest of the workshop team were delighted to take up the challenge.

They made not one, but two almost exact replicas of a NZ Post mailbox to be placed in the outdoor areas of each side of the special care unit.

“Posting letters in the letterbox has been part of our lives for so long it’s a habit.

Garth gears up to post the first letter...

....and the pleasure is palpable!

Garth gears up to post the first letter...

....and the pleasure is palpable!

“We wanted to make something that looked just like the postboxes you’d see if you were going to deliver a letter. We’re pretty pleased with how they turned out,” says Gary, whose wife Janell has primary progressive aphasia, a form of frontotemporal dementia.

“I’ve been part of Dementia New Zealand for quite some time and so I have real affinity for the work they do,” he said.

During the special ceremony, and to demonstrate the art of letterwriting, Libby, a resident living with dementia, read out a letter she had received from one of the independent residents, Bruce, who is part of the penpal group writing letters to the residents in the unit.

The penpal group is just one of the different groups that make up ‘Friends of the Village’ who share their time and skills to enrich the lives of residents living with dementia.

The craft group has made twiddle muffs for restless hands, the ukulele group has performed for them, and a few residents act as buddies offering companionship to others as well.

Even the village gardening team has assisted with the development of vege pod gardens alongside the residents of the units. Now, says Kim, the workshop team can be added to that list.

“Thank you to Sharon for planting the seed of such a wonderful idea, and to the workshop team for embracing the challenge and creating something so special – not just for our residents in care, but for everyone who visits and enjoys our gardens,” she said.

Once the ribbon had been cut, residents lined up to bring their letters to post in the new mailbox.

These letters were written with the help of the activities team to be sent to students at nearby Scott Point School who are also penpals to the residents.

Dementia Auckland’s Erica Munro said it was a wonderful initiative with many benefits for the residents.

“I just think what you’re doing here is fantastic,” she said. “The importance of keeping our brains stimulated no matter where we are in our journey is vital.”

Sharon said the mailboxes were ‘amazing’.

“I think it will be nice to encourage people to go into the amazing outdoor area and I think Dad will be particularly interested. He is certainly keen to check the letterbox and any walking he can do is great.”

by Maryvonne Gray | Sep 26, 2025