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“I’m really happy here”

Written by Ryman Healthcare
on June 19, 2019

Delcie loves living at Ryman Healthcare’s Charles Upham Retirement Village knowing she is close to her family and to the rural setting that she has lived in for most of her life.

Delcie is relatively new to the Rangiora-based village, and clearly remembers the warm welcome she was given by fellow residents as she settled in.

On her second day, and the very first time she attended the main lunchtime meal, she was drawn in to the gathering after being received with open arms. “I gave a wave, and everyone gave a clap. They were all very welcoming.
“There’s been no clique-ness at all. You just go along, and they say why don’t you sit there! So that was good.”

She is living in a serviced apartment and enjoys the lifestyle options her ground level apartment gives her. She can go to the swimming pool or the village centre to listen to the choir and other entertainers, or she can relax in her apartment.

A sliding door from Delcie’s apartment opens out to a patio where she keeps her varied collection of rocks and stones gathered on her travels around the South Island. Delcie has a passion for geology, which she began to study at Otago University on retirement after a lifetime of teaching.

The paintings on Delcie’s walls reflect some of the South Island teaching postings that she had during a career that took her to rural townships like Colac Bay in Southland and Otira, near Arthur’s Pass on the Canterbury-West Coast boundary. She eventually worked as a principal in country schools.

Before arriving at Charles Upham, she spent eight years living in independent villas on the east side of Rangiora. She says that she wanted a bit more help with the day to day tasks of living and so the serviced apartments at the village suited her needs perfectly.

Her apartment has an ensuite and modern kitchenette. As well as help with housekeeping, part of the fixed weekly fee* includes a Delicious home-cooked main meal in the dining room, and morning and afternoon tea. More services are also available.

Social outings are another regular event. “On one we took a trip over the hill, up Dyer’s Pass, had a coffee there. Then we went to Lyttelton. It was a foggy day and we couldn’t see much, but then we came back over Evans Pass.”

There are other living options for the residents of Charles Upham. The village located just on the outskirts of Rangiora, features architecturally-designed independent townhouses and apartments, assisted living in serviced apartments, resthome, hospital and dementia care.

The village is rural, peaceful, and set amongst beautifully landscaped gardens.

Sales advisor Chris Ashton says the newly built village townhouses and apartments have filled rapidly and appeal to a wide range of Cantabrians. Those who move in will find a diverse and interesting community.

There are apartment views from the Canterbury mountains to the Port Hills which appeal to many, while the close proximately to Rangiora township appeals to others.

Residents like to know they are handy to a community where they can socialise with other residents playing cards or other group activities but also to the village amenities which include a café, bowling green, library, and hairdressing and beauty salons.

Delcie met her husband, George (now passed away), within that rural setting. He was working on her family farm at Waihaorunga, near the South Canterbury township of Waimate and they were married on February 8, 1952.

Four children, Karen, Wayne, Neil and Adele arrived, and George eventually took up a teaching career, meaning the couple kept moving around the South Island.

Now Karen is the closest by, living on a farm near Waiau in North Canterbury. Karen, her daughter and granddaughters (Delcie’s great-granddaughters, aged 11 and 9) helped her move into the new apartment.

While other residents have shown her the ropes of village life, staff are also very kind. “I’m really happy here. I’m glad it is like it is, and the staff are marvellous, they always give you a smile. If you’re having a worry, they’ll come and sort it out.”

*Some conditions apply

About Ryman Healthcare:

Ryman was founded in 1984 and has become one of New Zealand’s largest listed companies. The company owns and operates 45 retirement villages in New Zealand and Australia which are home to more than 13,900 residents and the company employs 6,800 team members.

Media advisory: For further information, photos, interviews or comment please contact Group Corporate Affairs Manager Silke Marsh on +64 27 294 3609 or Communications Advisor Maryvonne Gray on 027 552 0767.

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