There were sounds of admiration all round recently when Christine showed residents at Enliven’s Huntleigh Home a quilt she had made for them.
The ‘Tree of Life’ quilt was made by Christine – whose father Don used to be a resident at Huntleigh. Christine worked with residents Audrey, Rose and June on the quilt’s design.
“I’ve worked quite a bit with older people in my career,” Christine says. “It’s a very special time of life.”
Featured in the centre of the quilt is the Tree of Life – similar to one designed years ago by resident Audrey and Huntleigh Home staff member Bryan to appear on a flag that still flies outside the home.
The quilt’s design also aligns with Enliven’s philosophy of care, which follows the Eden Alternative and uses the Tree of Life in its practices.
“The Tree of Life is used to represent a residents’ life journey, to be well known to staff and other residents,” explains Recreation Team Leader Annelize. “The tree encompasses a life worth living, and the leaves represent what makes each of us unique.”
She says Huntleigh Home previously had a quilt that was used to help comfort people who had come in for palliative care.
The original quilt went missing some years ago and when Christine found out she offered to make a new one.
Christine says she enjoyed working with the residents on the design and style of the new quilt. She even had time to make a second one, which was also donated to the home.
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.
