Joyce Winslade moved to her daughter and son-in-law’s home in Pukerua Bay from a retirement village in Mosgiel a few years ago.
“I know I made a sensible move. The house is on three levels and works well for the three generations that live there,” she says. “My Fridays at the Kāpiti Day programme take me out of the house and put me amongst my generation. I enjoy the activities and the games. It has been years since I played Gin Rummy, and Uno!”
Joyce’s career in Mosgiel involved teaching and working with special needs children. She and another teacher devised a forward-thinking programme that concentrated on everyday living skills such as shopping and cooking to help teach literacy and numeracy. She says her teaching experience makes her appreciate some of the challenges for staff at Kāpiti Day Programme.
“The staff are cool, calm and collected in all situations. They are interested in us as people with brains that still function even if a bit more slowly,” she says.
Kāpiti Day Programme at Kāpiti Cottage in Paraparaumu was established by Enliven to enable Kāpiti elders with memory loss and other health conditions to socialise in a safe and stimulating environment while also giving their families or carers a break.
While she misses the family down south, Joyce’s son and grandchildren are frequently in touch via online messaging, and some have visited. Joyce hopes to visit the South Island again – her home of 79 years – when her health permits.
In the meantime, Joyce enjoys her family, getting out and about to spinning and weaving group and weekly visits to Kāpiti Day Programme. She also reads voraciously, cracks crosswords, embroiders, and does patchwork.
Joyce connects with her generation at Kāpiti Day Programme
