It often starts small. A fall in the hallway, a hospital stay that runs longer than expected, or a loved one who begins to lose their way home from the dairy. Then one day, the arrangements that worked, such as a family member popping in or carers visiting each morning, no longer do.
For families, that moment can feel like being handed a map to a place they never planned to visit. For the loved one at the centre, much stays the same: their history, their relationships and their wish to live a meaningful, independent, life. What changes is the support they need around them.
New Zealand is ageing quickly. The August 2026 report from the Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group, A place to grow old, estimates around 418,000 people are now aged 75 or over, with that number projected to nearly double by 2047.
Most older people are still living at home. Around 72,000 received in-home support during 2024/25, while an average of 34,500 lived in aged residential care. We know that elders are also entering residential care later, often when their needs are more complex. The reality is that more than 60% of people aged over 65 live with two or more long-term conditions, while around 83,000 New Zealanders live with dementia.
For families, reaching that point can happen quickly. The Advisory Group estimates there are 655,000 informal carers across Aotearoa and warns that growing reliance on family care can shift a significant burden onto whānau, particularly women.
Linda's story shows how that looks. She moved into Enliven Central’s Kandahar Village in Masterton four years ago with her husband and has lived on her own since he died. Then came a medical event, a stay in Wairarapa Hospital and a period of respite care at Kandahar Home. Her memory is slipping, and some days she finds things confusing.
Her two daughters do what they can. Both work full time in Wellington, a two-hour drive over the Remutakas, and they visit whenever they're able to. In between, support from Meals on Wheels and medication support help keep things steady. Meanwhile the family is working through the assessment process, juggling doctors and appointments from a distance or taking time off work to be there.
Together they've decided a move closer to her daughters is best, but waiting for care can be long. Because village residents have priority access to any Enliven Central home, Linda can move into Kandahar Home now, and on to Woburn Home when a room opens. Throughout, she and her daughters have been able to turn to the team for support. "She's so grateful to be in a village with a community around her," says David, the Kandahar Village and Home Manager.
At Enliven Central, we think care should be able to change as a person’s needs change.
Across the lower North Island, our nine retirement villages and 13 care homes offer a range of options, from independent living through to rest home, hospital-level and specialist dementia care.
With us, support can also begin before a move into residential care. Day programmes at Whanganui’s Kōwhai Cottage, Woburn’s Riddiford Club in Lower Hutt and Paraparaumu’s Kāpiti Cottage provide company, activity and a change of scenery, while giving family carers valuable time to rest and recharge.
Short-term respite care can also provide a bridge during periods of change, including when someone is recovering after a time in hospital or when a family carer needs additional support.
For people who are still independent, village living can provide another option: a chance to downsize, stay connected and have support nearby if it is needed later.
At Kandahar Village in Masterton, that sense of community grew from small beginnings, says resident Trevor.
“When I first came here this village, it was only made up of 12 villas, so it was very small. But we got together as a group and arranged simple events, like watching the All Blacks games, just to bring everybody together. We’ve built a kind and caring community within the village.”
Today, with a recreation hall at its heart and a Residents’ Committee organising events, the village has grown and so has what residents can do together.
Christa, from our Enliven Central Retirement Villa and Property Support Office, says the feedback she gets from residents is that 90% say they wish they had moved sooner, to enjoy the lifestyle village life offers.
When more care is needed, Enliven Central’s village residents are given priority across all our homes, where possible, helping family or a familiar community stay close.
As needs become more complex, the person should not become less visible.
Guided by the Eden Alternative, Enliven Central aims to protect dignity, connection and choice as individual circumstances change. People deserve to be known for who they are, not only for what they now need.
“Enliven Central, alongside other Enliven regions, provides a quality of service that is becoming all too rare. Better integration with the wider health and community sector will improve how we better serve our residents. Flexibility in the assessment process could reduce the time, and anxiety, to bring elders into residential care when they need it”, says Joe, CEO Presbyterian Support Central.
Care should evolve as life does.