Twice a week in the afternoon, Huntleigh Home residents Diana and Bronwyn can be found running the Karori rest home’s shop.
The shop – named the Trading Post – was established prior to Diana and Bronwyn moving in and has become a special place for everyone, Huntleigh Home diversional therapist Annelize Steyn says.
“We tell everyone that the shop is opening and their eyes light up!” Diana says.
“It’s really customer-driven,” adds Bronwyn. “It becomes a little place of pleasure; I really look forward to it.”
The Trading Post is located in one of the home’s lounges and offers ice creams, lollies, chocolate, personal hygiene items and other snacks.
When the shop is open, Diana notes down the orders in a book, and Bronwyn fills the orders.
Since they started looking after the shop, Bronwyn says they’ve listened to the residents’ requests and included new items such as gluten-free food.
Outside of the shop’s opening hours, Diana and Bronwyn are kept busy doing stock take, ordering more items, setting prices, making sure the books are in order, and making up lolly mixtures.
“We do it for love,” Diana says.
She adds the time spent making up the lolly mixtures is all worth it when they see the reaction.
“The residents’ faces always light up when they’re looking through the mixtures and they find their favourites.”
Huntleigh Home offers rest home and hospital care, short-term respite, health recovery care and a day programme. To learn more about the home or the elder-centred Enliven philosophy, visit www.enlivencentral.org.nz or call 04 464 2020.
