Enliven Central, part of Presbyterian Support Central, has made the difficult decision to close its Reevedon Rest Home in Levin, a decision driven not by the quality of care provided, but by a funding model that has consistently failed to meet the true cost of aged residential care.
Enliven says the decision has been made with deep regret and sadness, and with the wellbeing of residents, whānau and team members at the centre of every step.
Reevedon Rest Home has served the Levin community for over 50 years and has built a strong reputation for compassionate, high-quality care.
“This is an incredibly sad decision for everyone connected to Reevedon. I know this news will be upsetting for residents, families, our team members and the wider community. Reevedon has been home to many people over the years, and I am proud of the care, compassion and dignity our team has provided every day.” said CEO Joe Asghar
Reevedon, a 40-bed rest home providing standard room care (>60% or approx. 480 of all Enliven rooms are standard, offering quality care for those who cannot afford to pay for premium rooms), has operated at a loss for many years. Over the past eight years alone, the service has required more than $3 million in support to remain open, despite ongoing efforts by Enliven to sustain it.
“I need to be very clear - this is not a failure of care. This is a failure of the funding system that underpins aged residential care in New Zealand, especially for not-for-profit providers like Enliven.”
“People are entering care later in life and with more complex needs than in previous generations. While Reevedon’s care team has provided excellent care, the building itself is no longer suited to contemporary care requirements or fit-for-purpose.”
“These standard beds are exactly the type of care New Zealand is short of. Yet they are also the hardest to sustain under the current model.” Mr Asghar said.
A known problem and no longer sustainable
Successive government reviews over the past decade have identified that aged residential care is underfunded, particularly for providers delivering standard room care.
Despite this, the funding model has not kept pace with:
- the increasing clinical complexity and unique needs of residents
- rising workforce and operating costs
- or the need to reinvest in our now aged infrastructure
“As a sector, we have been telling government for many years that the model does not cover the cost of care. Reevedon is a direct example of what happens when that gap is not addressed.” Mr Asghar said.
Why the home cannot continue
While the Reevedon care team has continued to deliver high-quality care, the building itself would require significant reinvestment to meet modern expectations and care standards. NFP providers have been forced to sacrifice essential building maintenance and upgrades to continue providing quality care.
“To rebuild the site now would require tens of millions of dollars - an investment that is simply not viable, or indeed sensible, under the current settings.”
A broader system issue
The closure of Reevedon is not an isolated event. It reflects wider pressures across the aged residential care sector.
“When aged care capacity reduces, the impact is felt across hospitals, communities and families.”
Supporting residents, families and team members
Enliven will be working closely with residents, whānau and support agencies to ensure a respectful and carefully managed transition.
“Our immediate focus is on ensuring every resident is supported with the care, dignity and individual attention they need through the transition to close the home,” Joe Asghar said.
“We are committed to supporting our team. They have shown enormous dedication and compassion, and we will be working individually with them on their transfer to Levin Home for War Veterans.”
Enliven has confirmed it remains strongly committed to providing aged care services in Levin through Levin Home for War Veterans, one of Enliven’s larger homes in the district. Levin Home for War Veterans is not at risk of closure and continues to operate with a sustainable mix of rest home, hospital and dementia level care, enabling it to better meet the needs of today’s residents and future demand. Reevedon Village and the community centre will also remain open.
“We remain committed to our Levin community and will continue providing residential aged care locally through Levin Home for War Veterans, alongside our ongoing retirement village presence.” Mr Asghar said.
Closing statement
“This is not a decision we wanted to make, and it wasn’t made lightly, but one that reflects a reality we can no longer ignore.
Without meaningful reform to how aged care is funded in New Zealand, closures like this will continue and access to care will become increasingly more limited for those who need it most.”
