Selwyn Oaks opening of $14 million Lees Centre

Selwyn Oaks to offer new participatory style of residential aged care with opening of $14 million Lees Centre

A new $14 million development offering residential aged care and retirement village amenities is to be opened by The Selwyn Foundation at Selwyn Oaks village in Papakura on Friday, 16 February 2018. The three-storey Lees Centre will offer fully serviced residential aged care suites within an innovative ‘household’ setting, as well as an extensive range of leisure amenities for residents.

The 48 care suites in the Lees Centre have been developed according to the ‘household’ layout, which is a new concept in the provision of residential aged care in New Zealand and based on international best practice. By having four small communities or ‘households’ of twelve residents, the care suites will provide an environment where people who live there have a real sense of belonging and feel truly at home.

Each ‘household’ will function like a home, where residents have their own room with ensuite and share a spacious lounge with open-plan dining and kitchen area, leading to a large outdoor deck and seating.

Village Manager, Roland Phillips, says: “The layout is designed to support our new way of delivering care. Our unique ‘care partnership’ approach provides holistic care planning focussed on all aspects of a person’s wellbeing. The interior plan and the accessibility features promote people’s independence, and a new way of working for our staff reflects the importance we place on the whole person and their overall wellbeing, and will enable residents to continue to take charge of their own lives, be empowered and heard by all their care partners.”

The Selwyn Foundation is the first provider in New Zealand to offer a new participatory style of hospital-level care – one that’s based totally around residents’ individual needs and what they want out of life.

“We’ve developed this following a review of the most innovative thinking in residential aged care provision and service delivery, and then created our own unique version. In the Selwyn model, our residents direct us on what’s important for them, with our care team then formulating a personal and tailored care plan based on the person’s individual needs. The care team has a guiding role and will support the resident to make the best decisions about their own wellbeing and lifestyle within the care home,” Roland says.*

The care suites are located on the first and second floors of the Lees Centre, which also comprises a social hub on the ground floor for the whole village to enjoy.

“During the planning stage, we discussed with our residents what suggestions they had for the new building, so they could input into the process and contribute ideas on what they would like to see in terms of the community leisure and social amenities on the ground floor.

“The new amenities will include a café and dining area, lounge and activity rooms, a residents’ shop, hair salon and an outdoor barbeque space, as well as administration offices and an area designated for worship services, and will offer a warm and welcoming centre for group activities and social get-togethers.”

The Centre is named in recognition of the outstanding contribution of the late Ted and Rowley Lees to the establishment of Selwyn Oaks village. Leading figures in Papakura, Messrs Lees played an influential role in the development and growth of the village in its early years, supported by the magnificent fundraising efforts of the Lions Club of Papakura and the local community. The Selwyn Foundation wishes to honour the Lees’ personal commitment and generosity to Selwyn, by dedicating the new building in their name.

The new centre is part of an exciting programme of gradual redevelopment to enhance the services and facilities available to residents at the village. It is one of three new developments which The Selwyn Foundation is undertaking. A new three-storey residential care, independent living and community amenities centre has recently opened at Selwyn St Andrew’s village in Cambridge, and a two-storey 90-room care centre is due to open at Selwyn Village in Point Chevalier later this year.

The Selwyn Foundation Chief Executive, Garry Smith, says: “We’re extremely proud to be opening this wonderful development at our Selwyn Oaks village. With our all-embracing approach to care – focussed on the whole person, their overall wellbeing and what they want out of life – the Lees Centre will enable Selwyn Oaks’ residents to continue to engage in life within a lovely home environment and will be an asset to the local community for many years to come.”

* Selwyn’s unique new participatory care philosophy has been shortlisted for the ‘Care Model Innovation of the Year’ category of the 2018 Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards. These prestigious awards, which are the ‘Oscars’ of the international aged care industry, recognise organisations for their innovative and quality approaches to changing the way the region’s older adults age, and for their contribution in shaping the future of the ageing landscape. Selwyn is one of four finalists for the award, with the winners to be announced at the international Ageing Asia Innovation Forum in Singapore on 16 May 2018.

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