Planning your best years yet
On the cover: Georgina, with her granddaughter.
Above: Sid and Sandra.
A lifestyle designed for you
Whatever age, whatever stage, life is for exploring. Our villages offer the freedom to choose your ideal retirement lifestyle. Rediscover lost passions or plunge headfirst into new ones, embark on adventures or put your feet up and appreciate the little things. This is your time and we’re here to help you enjoy it.
When people visit our villages, they often tell us they feel the difference. There’s something in the way our residents and village teams interact, their energy and enthusiasm. Add beautiful homes, a bustling social calendar, and premium amenities and you’ll understand why our village communities are described as thriving.
This booklet is designed to give you an introduction to life at Ryman. If you’d like to explore in more detail, we have other booklets in this series that may also interest you; Choosing your retirement lifestyle, A guide to financial certainty and The Ryman care guide.
We are proud to say that all photos in this booklet are of Ryman residents.
Setting the standard
Founding Ryman
In 1983, Kevin Hickman walked into a rest home and didn’t like the standard of care he saw. “There were four people to a room, with shared toilets down a corridor. To me, the standard was so poor, and preserving the dignity of the residents didn’t appear to be a priority. However, that’s how care was in those days.”
The experience formed a business idea that would transform retirement living across Aotearoa New Zealand. “I thought, what would I want for Mum? I’d want a private room for a start.” With that, Kevin and his business partner John Ryder found the opportunity they had been looking for. They would improve the way people lived in retirement with a high quality of care. It was a business they could feel good about and believe in completely.
Ryman (Ryder + Hickman) was born.
A company built on trust
Our co-founders built a company committed to excellence and that commitment flows through our villages to this day.
We’re proud of our dedicated teams and passionate residents. Together, we create vibrant communities built on trust. Residents can trust that our team will treat them like family and that they or their loved ones will receive the level of care they need, when they need it. Exceptional service is at the heart of what we do every day, from the transparency of our operations to friendly banter with the gardening team and the warm smiles of our care staff.
Above: Arthur, Jeanette and Christine.
The village experience
Active and thriving
Keeping active and fit is easy in a Ryman village. Swim laps in the pool, work out in the gym, walk the lush village grounds, and join our exercise groups. Residents counting kilometres have formed cycling groups and embarked on hiking trips together. Some intrepid souls even take a daily dip in the ocean.
Connect and unwind
Village living offers a balanced lifestyle. Connect with other residents in the village lounge or bar, pamper yourself in the salon, and entertain the grandkids with our world-class amenities*. Unwind with a soak in the spa and find that you have time to read a good book cover to cover. Fill your days with moments for you – this is your time, after all.
Skills and passions
Plunge headfirst into new experiences and old passions in a like-minded community. Sharpen your skills by doing what you love in the craft room or resident workshop, watch a movie with your neighbours at the cinema and enjoy the camaraderie of the pool table or village bowling green.
*You can confirm which amenities are available at your local village by chatting with your sales advisor or searching the ‘Find a village’ section of our website.
“I feel like I’m on holiday with my own furniture. So much to do if you want to. I love it here.”
Lois, Ryman resident
Top: Kerry, with her grandchildren. Bottom: Annie.
A community you can thrive in
How you engage with village living is your choice. Some residents meet new people walking the grounds or at our social events and activities. Others delight in the company of our team who are always nearby for a story and a laugh. You’ll find your people in a Ryman village.
Freedom and wellbeing
Like any chapter in life, the choice is yours in how you spend it. When you’re not entertaining family and friends at your village, take off on holiday knowing your home is safe and secure (and the lawns won’t be knee-high when you return!). Or choose to relax at home where our activity and lifestyle coordinators maintain a schedule of social events, hobby groups, and day trips for you to pick and choose. And if you’re seeking peace and quiet, there’s solitude with a garden view around every corner and you can bring your furry friend to the village with you.
Above: Helen and Choco.
Giving back together
“The people here are absolutely fantastic. They welcome you and I love that.”
Jennett, Ryman resident
It’s amazing what you can achieve when strong, supportive communities like those in our villages and offices join forces to give back.
Each year, we ask residents and staff which charity partner they would like to support for the next 12 months. Villages and offices become hives of activity as they plan clever fundraising ideas. As a company, Ryman matches all funds raised dollar-for-dollar. Together, we’ve raised more than $5.5 million for charities since 1999.
Above: Judith with friends.
Our living options
Our model offers an independent lifestyle and a range of care options in the same village environment so that support is easy to access as your needs change. Ryman villages are thriving communities where you have the freedom to live your way and we invite you to live in spaces that inspire, indulge, and entertain.
Independent living
Enjoy modern apartment or townhouse living with the convenience of premium amenities and a vibrant community. Elegant and easy to maintain with everything you need. Giving you more time and energy to do the things you love. Like having a quiet night in or hosting friends for dinner.
Assisted living
Our serviced apartments come with added support to make life easier, like housekeeping and a chef-prepared meal every day. Serviced apartments are centrally located in the heart of the village, so getting around is a breeze and staying active and connected with others is easy. It’s independence in the sanctuary of your own apartment with support you can count on, wrapped up in a community you can thrive in.
Care
Our care options include rest home, respite and in most villages, hospital and specialist dementia care. If you need to transfer to care, you have priority access over non-residents to your village care centre. If no space is available at your preferred village at this time, we will do our best to accommodate you at another Ryman village that provides the care you need until a suitable space is available at your village of choice.
“The staff are very good, I’m really happy.”
Dora, Ryman resident
Top: Sid, Sandra and Alison. Bottom: Dora, with Gurpreet.