ACHANGE OFPACE
Discovering Fresh Opportunities in the Next Chapter of Life
Senior Living at Its Best
with The Palms Lifestyle Village
This community combines well-appointed amenities with a vibrant spirit, created to enhance your retirement years Join us in a conversation with operators Daniel and Rochelle Skelton as they share insights into what makes The Palms a truly exceptional place to call home
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind The Palms Lifestyle Village and how it all started?
We recognised a need for a vibrant retirement community in Whangarei that offers both safety and fellowship It has been a journey, but we are very proud of everything we have achieved here over the last 18 years
How do you ensure a sense of community and belonging among the residents?
Being a family-owned and operated business, we offer that personal touch with the opportunity for the residents to see us directly, work alongside the Residents Committee, and support them with their activities We encourage residents to participate and get involved, aiming to create a warm, inclusive atmosphere that enriches everyone’s well-being
Can you describe some of the daily activities and events that
residents can participate in?
Our residents enjoy a rich tapestry of activities from creative arts like painting to leisure pursuits like bowling and pool They revel in our luxurious indoor heated pool, state-ofthe-art cinema, and lively social gatherings including happy hours and exercise classes
What amenities or features do you find residents enjoy the most?
Our residents particularly treasure the opportunities for social engagement be it through happy hours, communal dinners, or themed gatherings
The on-site hair salon is a community favourite, providing an easy access to have their hair styled while getting to know the hairdresser
What makes the homes at The Palms Lifestyle Village unique compared to other retirement options in Northland?
All our Villa’s are North facing, ensuring abundant natural light and warmth Each home offers spacious living with plenty of storage, exquisite landscaping, and generous patios, creating an idyllic private retreat
As a family-owned and operated village, how do you bring a personal touch to your interactions with residents?
Our daily presence in the village allows us to personally connect with each resident, ensuring their needs are met promptly and with a personal touch This direct interaction enables us to tailor our services and create a truly homely environment
Can you tell us about the newly built apartments that are currently available for sale, and what sets them apart in terms of quality and features?
Our newly built apartments offer modern elegance with ultimate convenience Fitted with high
Brand New Apartment Available
quality appliances and finishes, each unit offers seamless access to our comprehensive Community Centre, placing all amenities right at your doorstep Are there any upcoming projects or expansions planned for The Palms Lifestyle Village?
We are excited to start our luxury 32 two-bedroom apartments, all north-facing and overlooking our lake We are excited to get these underway! What do you find most rewarding about running The Palms Lifestyle Village?
Witnessing the transformation of our residents as they immerse themselves in the community life engaging in activities, forming new friendships, and discovering new joys every day It’s incredibly rewarding to see them thrive and embrace a new lease of life
ACHANGEOFPACE
Celebrate Age, Let’s Engage!
Gainingpopularityeveryyear,attractinghundreds moresilvercelebratorsandexpandingfromthree daysinNovembertotwoweeksinSeptember, Whangārei’sSilverFestivalisbiggerthanever–thisyearoffering68events
“Thetwo-weekcelebration,tailoredtoseniors, isaheartfeltcelebrationofourolderadults, recognisingtheirinvaluablecontributionsto ourcommunity,”saysCouncil’sPositiveAgeing AdvisoryGroup(PAAG)Chairwoman,Lesley Armstrong
ThegroupsparkedtheDistrict’sfirstSilverFestival in2021,tohelprebuildthemoraleofthesenior communityfollowingtheCOVID-19outbreak, andhasbeenquicktoadaptittosuittheneedsof thosewhotakepart “Firstitwasthreedayslong, butwereceivedfeedbackthatitwastooshortfor
peopletogettoagoodrangeofactivities Last year,weextendedittotwoweeks,allowingpeople topacethemselvesabit,andevenmoregroups lineduptohostevents Thisyear,wemoveditinto springandhaveagrandfinaleeventplannedfor 1October,theInternationalDayofOlderPersons, andstilltheeventisgrowing”
MsArmstrongsaidmanycommunitygroups andclubsintheWhangāreiDistrictarekeento embracethejoyofcommunityandtherichness oflifethattheFestivaloffers “Wehaveafabulous arrayofactivitiestoexplore,toconnectand,most importantly,tohavefun!”
Whyattend?
TheSilverFestivalisn’tjustabouthavingagood time;it’sasteptowardsbuildingage-friendlycities andcommunities Thesecommunitiesembrace
thediverseneedsofolderadults,recognisethe valuablecontributionsseniorsmaketooursociety andpromoteautonomyandinclusion Whangārei Mayor,VinceCocurullosays“Whetheryouchoose totrysomethingcompletelyneworfindagroup thatspeakstoyourpassions,Iurgeyoutojoinus incelebratingourDistrict’sseniorlifestyleatthis uniquefestival”
What’sonoffer?
From17Septemberto1October2024,theSilver Festivalisdesignedtoencourageseniorstostep out,trysomethingnew,andengagewiththeir peers Whetheryou’relookingtogetactive, unleashyourcreativity,orsimplymakenew friends,there’ssomethingforeveryone:
• Exploreandconnect:Joincommunity tours,socialgatherings,opendaysand informationalsessionsthathighlightthe resources,servicesandopportunities availableinourDistrict
• Getactive:Participateinclasses,nature walks,andsessionsthatpromotephysical healthandwellbeing
• Becreative:Engageinworkshops,sessions andcraftactivitiesthatallowyoutoexpress yourcreativityandlearnnewskills
• Havefun:Enjoyavarietyofentertainment options–there’sneveradullmoment
Grababookletfromyourlocallibrary, theairport,TeIwitahicivicbuilding, theWhangāreiiSiteoronlineat www.wdc.govt.nz/SilverFestival
ACHANGEOFPACE
Introducing the La-Z-Boy Lift Chair
You’ve
earned your right to relax
thatisstainandmoisture-repellent
• Model:OurliftchairscomeinBronze, Platinum,Platinum+,andLuxurymodels, eachofferinguniquefunctionalities
UsingYourLiftChair
Ourliftchairsareavailableinawiderangeofplush leatherandfabricupholstery Additionally,we offeravarietyof2-seater,25-seater,and3-seater styles,perfectforthefamily Manyofourcomfortfeaturesincludesupportive
Withthepowertosit,stand,orfullyrecline effortlesslyatthetouchofabutton,La-Z-Boylift chairsofferunmatchedcomfortineverypositionmakinglifemorecomfortableforyouandyourloved ones Theyaretheperfectchoiceforthosethat needalittlemobilityassistance,astheyallowyou tocomfortablysit,relaxandrecline,thensecurely assistyoufromaseatedtostandingposition
ChoosingthePerfectFitforYou
• Size:Weoffersmall,medium,andlargesizes, eachwithagenerousseatwidth
• Functionality:Choosefromfeatureslike independentbackrecline,zerogravity position,batterybackup,adjustableheadrest, lumbarsupport,massage,heat,illuminated buttons,orhandcontrolswithatoggleon thereversesideforthosewithdexterityand strengthissues
• Health&WellnessAdd-Ons:Weoffera hospitalbaseadd-onforselectedchairs, providingadditionalmobilitysupport,andan engineeredhigh-performancevinylcovering
Enjoyyourindividuallysuited,custom-ma patentedliftchairatthetouchofabutton quality-madereclinerliftarmchairs notonlylookandfeelspectacularbut arealsobuilttolastandeffortlessto operate
Experiencethepowerliftwithzerogravitypositioninginourliftchair range Benefitfromhandcontrols orilluminatedremotecontrolsfor visibilityinanylight,power-adjustable headrests,andbacksupport,along withlockablewheelsandafully enclosedmechanism evenin maximumreclinemode
WhyChooseLa-Z-Boy?
Withover95yearsofexpertiseasthe world’snumber1reclinerinventor, weofferacomprehensiveselection ofqualityliftchairdesigns,functions, andsizesacrossourBronze,Nordic, Platinum,andPlatinumPlusranges Theyaredesignedtocatertoevery need,lifestyle,andbudget
YouareinvitedtovisittheLa-Z-Boy GalleryatFabersFurnishings,where astunningrangeofmodelsison display Fabers’friendlyteamisready toanswerallyourquestionsandhelp youexperienceexceptionalcomfort. Comeintodayandfindtheperfectlift chairforyourneeds!
ACHANGEOFPACE
Discover a New Chapter of Life at
TheFallsEstateLifestyleVillage
NestlednexttothepicturesqueWhangareiFalls,The FallsEstateLifestyleVillageoffersauniqueblendof tranquillity,warmth,andcommunity Spreadacross 57hectares(14acres)ofmostlyflat,sun-kissed land,thisvillageisn’tjustaplacetoretire it’sa placetothrive
LifeatTheFallsEstatemeansembracingthethings youlove Whetherit’saleisurelystrollthrough
themeticulouslymaintainedgardens,enjoyinga friendlygameofsnookerwithneighbours,orsimply relaxingintheresort-likeatmosphere,TheFalls Estateisdesignedtoofferanappetiteforliving
ConvenientlylocatedjustminutesfromWhangarei citycentre,TheFallsEstateprovideseasyaccessto shoppingcentres,golfandbowlingclubs,parks,and churches Despitebeingclosetoalltheseamenities,
thevillageitselffeelslikeasereneretreat Mature trees,expansivelawns,andbeautifullylandscaped gardenscreateapeacefulenvironmentthat encouragesrelaxationandenjoyment
ResidentsatTheFallsEstateenjoyanimpressive arrayoffacilities Theheatedindoorswimmingpool andspapooloffertheperfectspottounwind,while thegymnasium,craftroom,andtoolshedprovide
opportunitiesforstayingactiveandcreative For thosewhoenjoyabitoffriendlycompetition,the villageoffersafull-sizesnooker/billiardtable,indoor bowls,andapetanquecourt Thevillagerestaurant andbarareidealforsocialising,andthevillageshop providesconvenientaccesstoeverydayessentials
Outdoorenthusiastswillappreciatethecovered BBQareaandthecommunalvegetablegarden, whereresidentscangrowandsharefreshproduce Thevillagealsoboastsahairsalon,makingiteasyto staygroomedwithoutleavingthepremises
SafetyandsecurityaretopprioritiesatTheFalls Estate Everyhomeisequippedwitha24-hour emergencycallsystem,providingpeaceofmind toresidentsandtheirfamilies TheFallsEstate welcomesindividualsaged65andover,offeringan earlierstarttothisenrichinglifestyle
However,therealgemofTheFallsEstateisits vibrantcommunity Thesenseoffun,friendship, andmutualsupportamongresidentsistruly priceless It’sthisspiritofcamaraderiethatmakes livingheresospecial
ThisSeptember,aspartoftheWhangareiDistrict’s SilverFestival,TheFallsEstateisopeningitsdoors tothepublicwithtwoGardenToursonthe18thand 25thstartingat10amto1pm Visitorsareinvited toexplorethebeautifulgardens,enjoyacupoftea, andperuseresidents’artandcraftforsale It’salso aperfectopportunitytotourthevillage,seethe availableproperties,anddiscoverfirsthandthewide rangeoffacilitiesofferedtoresidents
AtTheFallsEstate,retirementisredefined It’snot justaboutslowingdown;it’saboutfindingnew passions,makinglastingfriendships,andlivinglife tothefullest ComeandseewhatmakesTheFalls Estatemorethanjustaretirementvillage it’sa communitywherelifeiscelebratedeveryday
ACHANGEOFPACE
Do what makes you happy
KemOrmond
Decidingtoretirecanbequiteabig decisionforsomeandforothers they arecountingdownthedays
Whenyoudecidetoretireandtakeupsome newchallenges,theonethingyouneedto makesureisthatyoudowhatmatterstoyou! Youneedtofindmeaningandpurposein yourretirementandthisisyourchanceto thinkoutsideofthesquareandevenspread thosewings
Travel...withatwist
Noteveryonecanaffordtotraveltosome warmislandwheretheyservecocktailsin oversizedglassesandthesandisgolden betweenyourtoes Butthereareotherwaysto travelwhicharejustasexciting,butdifferent! Whynotconsiderhousesitting thiscan takeyoualloverNewZealandandwhata greatwaytomeetnewpeople.Youcould alsohouseswapwithafriendforachangeof scenery let’shopeyourfriendlivesinanice scenicareaofNewZealand!
Insummeryoucouldlookintoseasonal jobs,somecomewithaccommodationand whatawaytoenjoysummerandearnafew
dollarsalongtheway
Ifyouareluckyenoughtobeabletotravel overseasandyouhavefamilyinSpainortheUK orEurope youcouldrelocateseasonally,sono winter Iwouldbeupforthat!
Growafriendbase
Retirementgivesyouthetimetorekindle yourfriendbase,peoplewhoyoumayhave losttouchwithorfriendsyouhaven’tseenin awhile Itisachancetojoinsomenewclubs, meetnewpeopleandgetoutandabout
Plantavegegarden
Evenifyouhavelimitedspace,findroom toplantafewveges Youwillgetalotofjoyout ofsharingyoufreshlygrownproducewith neighboursandfriends
Learnanewlanguage
Youarenevertoooldtolearnandlearning anewlanguagecanbefun Youwillmeet likemindedpeopleandIknowinmytown,a Frenchspeakinggroupmeetforcoffeeand croissantsandthisgivesthemanopportunity tousetheirnewfoundlanguageskills
Retiring as a couple
KemOrmond
Planningforretirementrequiresthought,itishard enoughwhenyouareasingleperson,but whenyouareacouple,itcanbeadelicateroad totread Madeharderifthereisanagedifference andonepartnerretireswhiletheothercarrieson havingtowork Forsomeitmakesnodifference butforothers,itneedseffectivecommunication andforethought!
Whendoyouretire?
Everyonehasdifferentcircumstances,butyoudo needtositdownwithyourpartnerandmake somedecisionswellinadvanceofretirement
Manycouplesdecidetoretiretogethersotheycan enjoydoingactivitiestogetherliketravellingand spendingtimewithfamily
Othersarequitehappyifoneworksalittlelonger ormaybetheyareyoungerandnoteligiblefor superannuationyet
Finances
Asaretiredcoupleyoudoneedtodiscussand decideonhowtomanageyourfinances Thisdoes requirecarefulthoughtwhenthetimecomesand thereisnolongerapaycheque comingin
Getthatbookonthepress
Withallyournewfoundtime,maybeyou couldfinishoffthatbookthatyoustarted, buthavenotfinished ThatiswhatIam planningtodoinmyretirement Iamgoing tositunderalovelyshadedtree,withacool drink,laptop,andfinallyfinishabookthathas
beenalongtimeintheplanning,infactIam suretypewriterswerestillbeingusedwhen Istartedit!
Enjoyyourretirementandremember do whatmakesyouhappy,lifeistooshortforthe boringstuff!
Decisionsthatneedtobemade Ifyouarebothgoingtoretireatthesametime, youneedtodecideifyouaregoingtochangefrom maybetwocarstoone Areyougoingtostayliving inthesamehouseorlookfor somethingsmaller?
Householdchores Communicationisneededwhenitcomestothe householdchores.Oftenaworkingpartnerwill expectmorechorestobedonebythepartnerwho hasretired,butthisisnotalwaysthe case,andthiscancausealittlefrictioninthe home Ifyoudiscussthisandsortthisoutright
fromthestart,itwillmakeforahappierlife! Retiringtogethermeansthechorescanbe sharedbutyoudoneedtodecidewhoisgoingto dowhat
Toomuchtogetherness? Pursuingseparateinterestsandsocialgroupsfor retiredcouplesisareallyhealthyoptionandit meansthatwhenyoucometogetheragain, youhaveinterestingthingstoshareandtalk about Itcouldbethatonepartnergoesofftoa gardeningclubonceaweekandtheotherenjoysa localbookclub Makingsureyouboth spendqualitytimeapartonaregularbasisopens
upallsortsofpossibilitiesthatcanmakeyoufeel betterasapersonandenrichyourrelationship
Purposeandstructureinyour week
Retirementismeanttobeatimetotakelifeata slowerpace,indulgeinyourhobbiesandenjoy yourfamilyandfriends.Honestcommunication withyourpartnerisessentialandtheremaybea needforcompromise
Itisnotalwaysgoingtobesmoothsailingand havingsomestructureandpurposetoyourweek canhelpyourrelationship
ACHANGEOFPACE
Cruising is the perfect way to travel for a change of pace
Why?
Let’skeepyourtravelexperiencesimple While itrequiressomeflexibilityaroundyourtravel dates,onceyouareon-board,prepareyourselffor relaxationonyourterms
Ifyouarelookingforachangeofpaceinyour holidayexperience,herearesomereasonswhy yourlocaltravelprofessionalswouldrecommend cruising Andforthoseavidcruisers,herearesome remindersofwhyyouloveit!
All-InclusiveExperience:Cruisestypicallyoffer anall-inclusivepackage,whichmeansyoucan enjoymeals,entertainment,andaccommodations withoutworryingaboutextracostsorplanning Thisconvenienceallowsyoutorelaxandfocuson enjoyingyourholiday
MultipleDestinations:Acruiseallowsyou tovisitmultipledestinationswithoutthe hassleofpackingandunpackingorarranging transportationbetweenlocations Youwakeup inanewplaceeachday,offeringadiversetravel experiencewithminimaleffort
RelaxationandLeisure:Cruisesprovideample opportunitiesforrelaxation.Whetherlounging
bythepool,enjoyingaspatreatment,orsimply takingintheoceanviews,thepaceoflifeona cruiseisgenerallyslowerandmoreleisurely.
VarietyofActivities:Cruiseshipsareequipped withawiderangeofactivities,fromfitnesscenters andsportscourtstotheatresandnightclubs This varietyensuresthereissomethingforeveryone, whetheryouwanttostayactiveorjustunwind
SocialAtmosphere:Cruisesofferasocial environmentwhereyoucanmeetnewpeople fromdifferentbackgrounds Thecommunal diningoptions,groupactivities,andon-board eventscreateopportunitiestoconnectwithfellow travellers
SocialAtmosphere:Cruisesofferasocial environmentwhereyoucanmeetnewpeople fromdifferentbackgrounds Thecommunal diningoptions,groupactivities,andon-board eventscreateopportunitiestoconnectwithfellow travellers
ScenicViews:Theconstantproximitytothesea andchanginglandscapesprovidestunningviews andaconnectiontonaturethatyoudon’toften getinotherformsoftravel.
EaseofPlanning: Sincecruisespackage transportation,accommodation,meals,and activitiestogether,planningissimplerandless stressful,especiallywhenyouhaveyourcruise specialistguidingyouthroughtheprocess
PersonalizedExperience:Witharangeof cruiseoptions,fromluxurytofamily-friendlyto adventure-focused,youcanchooseacruisethat fitsyourpreferencesandtravelstyle,ensuringa vacationthatalignswithyourpaceandinterests Overall,cruisingoffersablendofadventure, relaxation,andconvenience,makingitan excellentwaytotravelwhenyouarelookingfora changeofpace
Mostimportantly,choosingtherightcruiseforyou willmakeaworldofdifferencetoyourexperience That’swhywe’rehere yourlocal,experienced traveladvisorsareheretomakesureyouchoose therightcruiseforyouridyllicholidayexperience.
It’simportantforustounderstandyouasa traveller yourneeds,whatyouvalue Isitthe freedomtoexplorethedestination,ordoyou enjoybigproductionsandentertainment?
Itmaybeusefultoknowourtraveladvisorshave travelledthisyearwithVirginVoyages,Viking, Silversea,KatarinaLineCruises,andaredueto returnfromanAvalonandMekongPrincesscruise Nottomentiontheshipinspectionson-board Oceania,CrystalCruises,andRegentSevenSeas Cruises Ourexperiencefuelsyouradventure Don’thesitatetoreachouttoourfriendlyteamof experiencedtraveladvisorstostartplanningyour idylliccruiseholidaynow.
Pssst!Isuggestyousubscribetoourmailing listtowatchoutforourcruisespecialoffers comingsoon.Bethefirsttoknow. Callusat094302862
ACHANGEOFPACE
Valuable assets for a happy retirement
KemOrmond
Alongandhappyretirementisgoingtotakemore thanmoney Yes,youaregoingtohavetohave tocrunchthenumberswhenthetimecomesand yes,youmayhavetotweakafewthingshereand there,buttherearesomanyotherthingsyouneed tothinkaboutaswell
Stayinghealthy
Alotofretireeswouldsaythathavinggoodhealth whenyouretireisnumberoneintheirbooks It’s nevertoolatetogetmovingandeatright Younow willhavethetimeforleisurelywalks,someyogaor pilatesorevenafewlapsofthelocalpool
Timetohaveasmallvegegardensoyoucaneat freshandhealthymealsandsharesurpluswith friends
Havingafurryorfeatheredfriend.
Onceyouretireyouwillhavetheopportunityto finallygetapetifyousowish Asmalldogisonmy retirementlistasIwillfinallyhavethetimetowalk andtrainanewpuppyandatthesametimeget someexercisemyself
Ifyouarearetireeonyourownpetsmake wonderfulcompanionswhetherfurryorfeathered
Hitthebooks...ormovies
IamlookingforwardtothedayIc inanicesunnycornerwithmynos andnotfeelguilty Itryitnow,but washingpile,dishesinthesinkan bedandgetacauseoftheguilts
Thentherearetheseniorratesatt wahoo!Iwillbeupforthat
Havingapurpose
Iamnotretiredyetsohaveverylit buteveryChristmasIhelpwiththe ChristmaslunchwhichIreallyenjo havealittlesparetime,afewhour somevolunteeringisareallygood connectedtoyourcommunity
Whetheritishelpingatyourlocalschool,opshop, library,drop-incentreorevenhelpingsomeone whoneedsassistancelearningafewmore computerskills,itisareallyfulfillingwaytospend afewhours
Socialconnections
Itdoesn’tmeanyouhavetobedoingiteveryday, butgoforacoeeonemorningaweekwithfriends orgettogetherwithagroupforanearlymorning walkormaybeacombinedmealonceaweek
Learningandinterests
Nowyouhavesometimeonyourhands,catch upwithsomeofyourfriendsyoumayhavelost touchwith Itisimportanttokeepupwithsocial connectionsotherwisedayscanbelongandlonely
Hereisyourchancetotakeuppainting,jointhe localwritinggrouportryyourhandatpottery Allthethingsthatyouhavewantedtotrybutlack oftimeprohibited
Trysomethingnew,agreatwaytokeepyourmind active
Andfinally,attitude
Enjoymentofyourretirementboilsdownto attitude Youcaneitherstayathomedoingthose mundanechoreseverydayoryoucanventureout, catchupwithfriends,tryoutthatnewcafé,join thelibraryandenjoyyournewsenseoffreedom!
invites you to join the celebration of the Silver & Fringe Festival
16th September: Food Cycle Workshop 2 – Food Waste
Discover strategies to reduce food waste.
17th September: Eco Solutions - Green Drinks Trivia Night
(Book Tickets via Eventfinda)
23rd September: Food Cycle Workshop 3 - Soil Health & Growth
Learn how compost boosts soil health and plant growth.
24th September: Silver Festival Morning Tea, 10am to 12pm
30th September: Workshop 1 - Composting
These events are part of the Silver & Fringe Festival, and will take place at the Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery
Book your tickets online or at the door.
For more details visit hundertwasserartcentre co nz 81 Dent Street, Whangārei enquiries@hundertwasserartcentre.co.nz
ACHANGEOFPACE
Discover the Perfect Retirement at TheKamoHomeandVillage.
fFordAvenueinKamo,The agecomplexoffersanidyllic retirement Setonagentle hevillageoverlooksnative akiore,providingasereneand picturesqueenvironment Theextensivegrounds andgardenscreateanattractivespaceforwalking andenjoyingtheoutdoors Greatgardenand orchardforresidentstoenjoy
PrimeLocationwithConvenientAmenities
TheKamoshoppingcentreisjustminutesaway, offeringaccessibleamenitiessuchasamedical centre,supermarket,library,churches,andabus stop Thisproximityensuresthatresidentshave everythingtheyneedwithineasyreach,enhancing theirqualityoflife
Thecomplexprovidesarangeoflivingoptions, includingapartmentsandtownhousesfor supportedindependentliving,aswellasacare facilityshouldyouneedadditionalcareinyour future
Ifyouare65yearsorolderandyourhealth issuescanbewellmanagedbyyourowndoctor, youareeligibletopurchaseandliveinoneof ourunits Thevillageoffersaffordableoneand two-bedroomunitsthataretastefullydecorated andfullyequippedforasafe,carefree,and independentlifestylewithoutthestressesof propertymaintenance
Open Afternoons: 12th & 19th September, 3rd October
ACHANGEOFPACE
You are never too old to LEARN!
Peopleoftenthinkthatafteracertainageyou struggletolearnnewthings Infact,theopposite istrue Olderadultsarejustascapableoflearning newthingsandcanthriveinnewenvironments Theyalsohavethewisdomandlifeexperienceto makeaneffectivecontributionplusthetimeto enjoyactivitiesoutsideofworkandhome Keeping busycanactuallykeepyouyoungasyouage
Learningnewthingschallengesyourbrain Did youknowthatyoucanimproveyourchancesof maintainingahealthymindbymanagingyour health,dailyexercise,eatingahealthydiet,getting sufficientsleep,stayingsociallyengagedand learningnewthings? ResearchfromtheUniversity ofAucklandhasrevealedthatexercisingyourbrain isjustasimportantasaphysicalfitnessregime
Keepingboth activeandsocial hasaddedbenefits ofkeepingyour mindsharpand byjoininganew activityyoualso expandyoursocial network Classes foradultsare availablethrough Community Education Whangarei, basedatKamo HighSchool, wwwcewacnz Thereareawide rangeofworkshopsheldattheweekendsplus someeveningclasses,withfreshcoursesavailabl everysemester
Keep up with TECHNOLOGY
Don’t
drop off the radar
Developinganewskillcanhelpyougrowasa person Itincreasesyourknowledge,givesyoua senseofachievementandhasanimpactonyour self-esteem Sotakeupahobby,learntoplayan instrument,discoveranewlanguageorattendan artworkshop Visithttps://wwwcewacnz/gallery htmltoviewwhatstudentshaveachieved
Challengeyourbrainandfindsomethingthatis goingtobemeaningfulandenjoyable Takethe opportunitytotrynewexperiencesandtomeet newpeople Stepoutofyourcomfortzone You arenevertoooldtolearn!
Justbecauseyouretiredoesn’tmeanyouneedto lettechnologyslide Itissoimportantnowadays tokeepusingyourmobile,laptop,desktop,or tablet
Importantsoyoucanpayyourbills,keepintouch withfamilyandsearchtheinternet Theinternetisabottomlesspitoffun Youcould watch100catvideosonlineeverydayandstill neverrunoutofhilariousfelinehijinks
Doyouknowthereareeveninternetappsthatlet youdojigsawsonline?Howgreatisitthatyou don’tneedtotakeupthewholediningroomtable waitingforittobefinished!
Therearesomegreatideasyoucanimplement withyourtechnology,forexample,whynotstart ablog?Writeaboutyouradventuresandmusings inretirementandseehowmanyotherretirees youconnecttowhoarelivingsimilarexperiences alloverNewZealand–andtheworld Youcouldstartwritingthatbookyouhavetalked aboutforsolongorwhynotstartafamilytree, genealogycanbesointeresting
YoucouldevenstartaYouTubechannelorget intosocialmediaandjoininontheTikTokand Instagramcrazes
Thentherearesmartwatches,smarttelevisions, andsmartspeakers Thelistisendlessifyoulove technology Andonceyouhavemasteredthese, therewillalwaysbesomeonewhoneedsahand withtheirs!
Learnanewskill
Technologyopensaworldofopportunitieswhen itcomestolearninganewskill
YoucanwatchYouTubevideosonhowtorepair something,oryoucouldlearnanewlanguage,so youareallreadyforthatoverseasholiday Whynotteachyourselfhowtoplaytheguitaror apianooreventheflute
Newtotechnology
Ifyouareretiringandhavebeeninajobthathas involvedlittleornotechnologybutnowhavethe timetolearn,thereareavarietyofcommunity learningnetworksthatwillbeabletosupportand assistyoutoconfidentlyusetechnology Alotoftheseclassesarerunbyvolunteersand oenclassesarefreeofcharge
Healthandtechnology
Technologycangreatlybenefitolderpeople, makingitconvenientandsafetoconnectwith healthcareprofessionalsandhavevirtualvisits fromthecomfortofyourownhomes
Bookingappointmentsandorganising prescriptionrepeatscanbedonewithaclickofa button
Don’tgiveup!
Althoughallthistechnologycanlookdaunting, forthosewhopersevere,therewardscanbe sofulfilling,completingtasksmoreeasily, communicatingmoreeectively,increased independenceandasenseofachievement
KemOrmond
ACHANGEOFPACE
ShannellStanbridge: A Journey of Passion and Expertise in Travel
Withover23yearsofexperience inthetravelindustry,Shannell Stanbridge,ownerandoperatorof TravelandCruiseHQinWhangārei hasbuiltanexceptionalcareer,gui clientstowardunforgettabletravel experiences
FromthemomentShannelllefthig school,sheknewherpathwouldb thetravelindustry Afterearninghe diplomainTravelandTourismin20 shebeganhercareerasatravelage inWhangārei By24,sheco-owned firstagencybeforelaunchingTrave andCruiseHQin2020,drivenbyhe dedicationtocreatingpersonalised travelexperiences
Shannell’struepassionliesin customisedcruisejourneys,believing thatthereisashipanditineraryouttherefor everyone “Ispecialiseincruisesandbelievemy rolenowdeliversmorepersonalservicethan everbefore It’sallaboutprovidingcustomised packagesforeverytravelplan,ensuringeach client’suniquepreferencesaremet,”shesays Whetherit’saEuropeanrivercruiseoratropical islandget-a-way,Shannellexcelsatfindingthe perfectfitforherclients,offeringexpertadviceand tailoredsolutionstomakeeverytripseamless
p g g p p p stillmyabsolutefavouritepartoftheplanet,”she says,reminiscingaboutthefascinatinghistory, culture,andstunningarchitecture.Shespentpart ofherjourneyaboardtwoluxuryrivercruiseships, EmeraldandScenic,experiencingthebestof Europefromthewater
p , p fivedaysinSingapore,wheresherediscoveredthe charmofthismodern,tourist-friendlydestination FromenjoyingpanoramicviewsatMarinaBay Sandstoexploringthefamily-friendlySentosa Island,Shannellhadafantastictimeexploringthe city’smanyofferings
edicationandexpertiseincrafting rdinarytravelexperiences
dliketoplanyournextjourney plychatabouttravelideas, Shannellinvitesyoutogetintouch Sheisready toshareherknowledgeandhelpplanyourdream holiday WithaUK/EuropeEarlyBirdSalecoming soon,there’salsoanexcitingspecialofferonthe horizon sowatchthisspace!
Earlierthisyear,Shannellundertookherown traveladventure,returningfromanincredible
“Thereisnobetterwaytoseethecontinentthan onaluxuryrivercruiseship It’sseamlessfrom starttofinish,”shesays ShehighlightstheallinclusivenatureofSceniccruises,praisingtheir largercabins,exceptionalservice,andexclusive excursionslikeaprivateconcertinVienna
Asatravelmanager,Shannellprovidesflexible, personalisedservice whetherit’smeetingover coffeeorvisitingclientsattheirhomes Her dedicationearnedhernationalrecognition,most recentlybeingawardedforoutstandingsaleswith AustralianPacificTouring(APT),atestamentto
Intoday’sreview-drivenworld, it’sessentialtohearfromothers CheckoutShannell’slatestreviews onGoogleorvisitherwebsite!
ACHANGEOFPACE
Time to bowelscreen
Bowel screening can help find cancer early when it is easier to treat.
Thebowelispartofthefooddigestivesystem It joinsthestomachtotheanus(bottom)andhelps wastematerial(poo)toleavethebody
Bowelcancer,alsocalledcolon,rectalorcolorectal cancer,startswhencellsinthebowelbeginto growoutofcontrol Thecellscanturnintoapolyp (growth)andsomepolypsmayturnintoacancer overanumberofyears Regularbowelscreening, providesanopportunitytofindandtreatbowel canceratanearlystage
TheNationalBowelScreeningProgrammeisafree programmeofferedto60-to74-year-oldswhoare eligibleforpubliclyfundedhealthcareandaimsto detectprecancerouschangesorbowelcancerat anearlystage
Ifyouare60to74yearsoldandareeligibletotake part,youwillbesent:
• aninvitationletter
• aconsentform
• afreebowelscreeningtestkit,with instructionsonhowtocompleteit
• Thetestiscleanandsimpletodoathome
Whatarethesymptomsofbowelcancer?
Theremaybenowarningsignsthatyouhave bowelcancerbutcommonsymptomsinclude:
• achangeinyournormalbowelhabitthat continuesforseveralweeks
• bloodinyourbowelmotion
Thesesymptomscanbecausedbyother conditions,butit’simportanttogetthemchecked
Ifyouhaveanybowelsymptomsthatconcernyou, discussthesewithyourdoctorassoonasyoucan, don’t waittoreceivethefreebowelscreeningtest
Howcommonisbowelcancer?
NewZealandhasoneofthehighestratesofbowel cancerintheworld,withmorethan3000people diagnosedwithiteveryyearandmorethan1200 dyingfromthedisease
Bowelcancerismorecommoninthoseovertheage of60years
Thereisnocertainwaytopreventbowelcancer,but youcanreduceyourriskofdevelopingby:
• havingahealthydiethighinfruit,vegetables andfibre
• regularexercise
• beingsmoke-free
Ifyouhavehadextensiveinflammatorybowel disease,orhaveafamilyhistoryofbowelcancer,you mayhaveahigherriskofdevelopingbowelcancer
HowdoIdothetest?
Thebowelscreeningtestdetectstinytracesofblood presentinyourbowelmotion(poo) Thesetestshave anexpirydate,soitisimportantthatyoucomplete andpostitthesameday Thelaboratorycan’tprocess testswhichhavepassedtheirexpirydateandyouwill besentanothertesttocomplete Todothetest,youneedto:
• collectasmallsamplefromyourbowelmotion (poo)usingtheteststick,andputitintothetube
• putthesampleinthezip-lockbag,alongwith thedatedandcompletedconsentform
• postitassoonaspossibleinthereply-paid envelopeprovided
Youwillbecontactedwithyourresultandtold whatthismeansforyou Youmayalsoreceivea callfromyourdoctororanurse.
Tofindoutmore:
• Pleasevisit wwwtimetobowelscreennz
• EmailBowelScreening@northlanddhborgnz
• Freephone0800924432
• ortalktoyourdoctor
Fancy cruising your way into retirement?
RiverstoOceans: Finding the perfect cruise for your retirement adventure
Cruisesofferauniqueblendofrelaxation, adventure,andentertainment,makingtheman idealchoiceforretireesseekingamemorabletravel experience Whetherexploringthewindingriversof EuropeorthevastoceansoftheCaribbean,cruises provideacomfortableandconvenientwaytosee theworld
Oneofthebiggestadvantagesofcruisingisthe varietyofstylesandpricesavailable,catering gets Fromluxurious, morebudget-friendly foreveryone Unlike epthesamecabin owingyoutounpack
KemOrmond
Ihaveheardaboutretireeswhospendtheir retirementcruisingtheworld
Imaginejustrelaxingonthatdeckchair,eating sumptuousfood,nohouseworktodo,nohouse maintenanceandallyourwashingarrivingback ironedandclean
Youwouldgettoseetheworldandyouwould certainlygettomeetalotofpeople Theeverchangingscenerywouldmakeforaninteresting wayofliving
Therewouldplentyofentertainment,agym,a doctoronhandandabeautifulswimmingpool thatwouldalwaysbesparklingclean
Withretirementhomescostingapprox $6500per month(basedonwhatoneofmyfamilymembers pays)youcouldhavealovelytimesailingto exoticdestinationsaroundtheworld
Icanseetheadvantageifyouhavelimited mobilityandifyouwereintheolderagebracket, howeasyitwouldbegettingontoaship, unpackingonceandhavingtheworldcome toyourdoor Therewouldbenoairports,no transfers,andnofindingahotel!
Thereisalwaysadownsidethough,youwould notwantyourcabintowindowlessasthatwould notbefun,youwouldnotwanttogetseasick,and wouldboredomeventuallysetin?
Stayingconnectedwithfamily,especially grandchildrencouldprovetobeabitdifficult, butnomoredifficultthanhavingyourfamilylive overseas,Iguess
Youwillalsohavetohittheonboardgymregularly ifyoudonotwanttoputontoomuchweightfrom thewonderfulonboardfood!
Whenitcomestothecostoflivingonacruise ship,itisgoingtodependonhowyouchooseto live,justlikeitwouldonland Forexample,what cruisesyoubook,thefoodplansyouchoose, andhowmuchentertainmentyoubuy,willall varywitheachpersonandcouldimpactyour overallcosts Manyfindlivingthiswaymore affordablethanpayingoff amortgage!
Ifthinkingaboutmakingcruisingapermanent idea,itmightpaytotakeanextendedcruiseto makesureyouwanttomakethisapermanent retirementoption
withactivitiesandamenitiesforallages, includingwaterparksandsupervised programsforchildren Theyareidealfor multi-generationalfamilieswhowantto vacationtogether
• AdventureCruises:Forthemoreactive traveler,thesecruisesofferthrilling excursionssuchasrockclimbing,zip-lining, hiking,anddiving
• CulturalCruises:Focusedonimmersing guestsinlocalcultureandhistory,these cruisesoftenstopatportsknownfortheir heritageandtraditions
eals,drinks,and youcanenjoyyour aboutadditionalcosts
bebothexcitingand angeofchoicesavailable esofcruisestoconsider: i ff hi h
• RiverCruises:Offeringaslowerpaceandan intimatesetting,rivercruisesallowtravelers toexploresmaller,picturesquetownsand citiesalongtheworld’swaterways This optionisgreatforretireeslookingfora relaxedyetculturallyrichexperience
• BudgetCruises:Thesecruisesoffermore basicaccommodationsandfewerfrills, makingthemanexcellentchoiceforthose lookingtomaximizevaluewithoutbreaking thebank
Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s Disease
WhatistheDifference?
KemOrmond
Dementiaisageneralterm foradeclineinmental ability severeenoughtointerfere withdailylife, whileAlzheimer’sisa specificdisease Alzheimer’s isthemostcommoncauseofdementia
Thinkofanumbrella
Dementiaisanumbrellatermusedtodescribea groupofsymptomsthataecthowwellour brainswork Themostcommonformofdementia isAlzheimer’s disease–whicharoundtwo-thirds ofpeoplewithdementiahave
Dementiaisprogressive,whichmeansthat formostpeoplethechangesgraduallyspread throughthebrainandleadtothesymptoms gettingworse Dementiaisdifferentforeveryone–whatpeopleexperience,andhowquicklythey areaectedisuniquetothem
Whattheycando,remember,andunderstandmay changefromdaytoday Whensomeoneyoucare aboutisdiagnosedwithdementiaitcanbeahard pieceofnewstodealwith
Ihavethreeofmyfamilymemberswithdementia allatthesametime allatdifferentstagesand allstrugglingintheirownway
Thedeclineincognitivememorymeans thegraduallossinthinking,reasoning,or remembering Whilethediagnosismaynotbe completelyunexpected,itcanstillbedifficultfor allparties
Whatarethesigns
Whilemanyformsofdementiahaveaslowonset, somewarningsignstobeawareofinclude:
• Memorylossthataffectsyourdailyliving
• Frequentlymisplacingthings
• Difficultyperformingyourregulardailytasks
• Difficultywithunderstandinglanguageor communicatingwithothers
• Changesinmoodandbehaviour
• Disorientationtotimeorplace
• Strugglingtothinkabstractly
• Decreasedorpoorjudgement
• Lossofinitiative
Howcanyoureducetherisk? Aswegetolder,ourriskofdevelopingdementia increases Butevidenceshowstherearethings youcandotohelpreducethisrisk Theseinclude keeping active,eatinghealthily,andstaying mentallyactiveandsocial
Discover Meaningful Day Care at the ForgetMeNotCentre
TheForgetMeNotCentreinTikipunga (110BoundaryRd,Tikipunga 09-4371144: wwwadultdaycentreconz Facebookforget-me-not-whangarei) ishereforyou-allages,allabilities.
Activitiesareclientchosenandcaninclude excursionstotenpinbowling;museumandarts facilities,swimmingattheindoorpools,coffee morningsandsightseeing Indooractivities includeart,crafts,andbowls,sitfitexercises, TaiChiclasses,boardgames,discussiongroups, music,swingdance,dailydiscussionforums,sitfit classes,readingandquiettimesifdesired Ouremphasisthereforeisonatherapeutic,
meaningfuldaycareforclientstoallowthem tocontinuetoliveintheCommunitysetting In additionthetimespentattheCentregivesthose whocareforourclientsathomeawelcomebreak from24hourcaring
Ourclientsandwhanauarecentraltooursuccess asisthecohesionbetweentheamazingstaff includingourvolunteers,managementandboard Themosttangibleindicatorofoursuccessisthat theclientslovetobeattheCentre Theyarrive smilingandleavelaughing,theyhelpeachother, relatewell,areenthusiasticinparticipatingand haveanexcellentattendancerecord Thisextends outwardstothecommunityandourlevelof communityinvolvementandcollaborationhas neverbeenhigherthannow
Thereareseveralpointsofdifferencethat maketheserviceunique,includingthelevel ofqualityandthetypeofcare TheCentre providescomplexcare,basedoncreating opportunitiesthathelpclientstokeeptheir physicalandmentalfacultiessharp,therefor slowinganyprogressoftheircondition/s Tomeetdemandwehaveanewadditional servicewhichisanextendeddayservice wherebywecanassistincaringforthosewh requirecarewhilefamilymembersattend meetingsandappointments Thisisavailabl byappointment,orimpromptu,asneeded toassist
ThiscoversallareasofNorthland
Bychallengingthebrainwithnewactivities,you canhelpbuildnewbraincellsandstrengthenthe connectionsbetweenthem Thismaycounterthe harmfuleffectsofAlzheimer’sdiseaseandother dementiapathologies Activitiesthatstretchyour mindsuchas reading,crosswordsandpuzzles, andactivitiessuchasbridge,mah-jongandchess areexcellent.Bychallengingyourbrain,youcan learnsomegreatnewthingssuchaslearninga newlanguageortakingupanewhobbyorsport
Caringforsomeonewithdementia Iwouldcallitarollercoasterridecaringfor someonewithdementia Youridealongquite smoothlyandthenit’sgetsextremelybumpy Don’tfeelyouhavetodealwithitallonyourown Thereisplentyof supportinthecommunityto assistsuchasyourlocalAlzheimer’sand Dementiaorganisations,aswellasyourlocalNASC (NeedsAssessment andServiceCoordination Service)
Thelaterstagesofdementia
Dementiaisaprogressiveconditionforwhich thereiscurrentlynocure,soit’simportant tobepreparedandtoknowwhattoexpectatthe finalstages Thingswillnotbeso overwhelmingif youplanwellin advanceandtakeupthehelpand advicefromlocalagenciestrained todealwith dementia
Sources: https://alzheimers.org.nz https://wwwageconcernorgnz
ACHANGEOFPACE
Eyes & ageing
Changes that occur in our eyes as we grow older can have a big effect on our vision.
Fromtheageofabout45years,youshouldhave youreyestestedeveryfewyearstocheckhow wellyoucanseeandtolookforsignsofcommon problemssuchascataracts,glaucomaandmacular degeneration Alloftheseproblemscanbe managedbetterifpickedupearly
Keepyoureyeshealthy
Didyouknow?Youreyesneedthreetimesas muchlightwhenyou’re60astheydidwhenyou were20?
• Usegoodlighting
• Eatwell–especiallyfruitandvegetables
• Wearsunglasses–reduceyourriskof cataracts
• Quitsmoking–reduceyourchances ofdevelopingcataractsandothereye conditions
• Stayahealthyweight–beingoverweight increasesyourriskofdiabetes,whichcan leadtosightloss
• Exercise–thisstimulatesgoodcirculation, increasingoxygenintakewhichisimportant foreyehealth
• Sleepwell–asyousleep,youreyesare continuouslylubricatedandirritants,suchas dustorsmokethathaveaccumulatedduring thedayareclearedout
Presbyopia(age-relatedlong-sightedness) Getregulareyetestsandwearthecorrectlenses Asweage,theabilityofeyelensesto focusdecreasesgradually Thismakesithard tofocusonthingsthatarenearby(knownas presbyopia)andisthereasonmanypeopleover theageof40needreading glasses
Readingglasses:
• helptheeyetofocuson thingsthatarenearby
• needtobegradually increasedinpower astheeyelosesits focusingability
• donotspeedupor slowdownthechanges happeningintheeye
Cataract
Cloudingofthelenswithinaneyeiscalleda cataract Yourriskofgettingcataractsincreases withageandmanypeopleovertheageof60 yearshavecataracts Somecataractsmayrequire surgery Surgeryisusuallyonlyadvisedwhenthe visionhasbecomesoblurred thatit’sdifficulttocarryout normalvisualtasks
Glaucoma Glaucomaisacondition inwhichthepressure insidetheeyeistoohigh andcauseslossofvision Glaucomacanrunin familiesandisseenmore commonlyintheover-50 agegroup
• Mostpeopleareunawaretheyhavethe diseaseuntilitisinanadvancedstate
• It’simportanttohaveregulareye examinationsandbescreenedforglaucoma, especiallyifthereisafamilyhistory
• Inmostcasestheconditioncanbe successfullytreatedwitheyepressure loweringdrops
Maculardegeneration
Intheover60-year-oldagegroup,gradualloss ofcentral‘sharp’visioncanoccur Thisisusually causedbychangesinanareaatthebackofthe eyecalledthemacula Themaculahelpswiththe sharpfocusingneededforreadingandotherfine visualtasks.
Ifyouexperienceasuddenchangeinyourvision, eg,distortion,reducednearvisionorblurred centralvision,youshouldseeyourdoctoror ophthalmologistwithoutdelay
Helpisonlyaphonecallaway.Seek medicalcareforanychangeinthe conditionofyoureyeorsight CallEye CentrePrimecareon0800110030or visit12KensingtonAve,Whangarei.
• Ophthalmic eye examinations
• Cataract extraction and lens implant
• Pterygium excision plus conjunctive graft
• Injection for wet age related Macular Degeneration
• Glaucoma treatment
• Cataract surgery
Eye specialists: David Dalziel and Andrew Watts Ph: 09-972 7022
12 Kensington ave, Whangarei Fax: 09-972 7026
email: pceyes@xtra co nz Website: www