Ryman Times NZ - AUTUMN 2022

RYMAN TIMES RY M A N H E A LT H CA R E N EW Z E A L A N D

‘Old bird’ loving her new life in a Ryman village Australian team wins praise for COVID response Ken Rockwood wins Ryman Prize John Callen wins equity award

AU T U M N 2 02 2

A WORD FROM RICHARD Kia ora and welcome to our latest edition of the Ryman Times.

As I write, I have some hope that we are reaching the peak of the Omicron wave, and that we can look forward to brighter days ahead.

I remain absolutely in awe of the professionalism and commitment of all our teams, the way everyone has worked together to care for our residents, and each other during this enduring pandemic.

The latest variant - Omicron was recorded in Australia for the first time on Boxing Day 2021, and our village teams in Victoria rose to the challenge of managing through the crisis.

More recently, they were able to share their experiences and learnings with our New Zealand teams, who in turn were better able to prepare for the inevitable Omicron arrival in the North and South Island.

Omicron is highly infectious, and as a result large numbers of staff had to self-isolate. It has been a huge challenge, but due to good planning and preparation as well as commitment to the task and sheer hard work, we have maintained safe operations throughout New Zealand and Australia.

This is a remarkable achievement.

As a result of our success at adjusting to life with COVID-19, I believe we are a stronger team for it, and better prepared than ever to take Ryman forward into the future.

Residents such as Polly, who you will read about in this edition, chose to move into a Ryman village in part because of COVID – and our track record in keeping residents safe. With 15 villages currently under construction, we will be welcoming many hundreds more residents like Polly, and working with them to build strong communities - safe and well cared for.

I very much hope to be visiting many more Ryman villages over the coming months, and perhaps we can even meet in person.

Kind regards,

Richard Umbers Group Chief Executive

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IN THIS ISSUE

4

Laser focus for new Chair

6

Ken Rockwood wins 2021 Ryman Prize

7

Australian team wins praise for COVID response

8

Hang on to your hard hats!

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Predator trap production in full swing

10

Sailing into a Ryman village to avoid COVID John Callen wins equity award

16

‘Old bird’ loving her new life in a Ryman village

18

Letters from schoolchildren make residents’ day

huge hug that’s 20 Adefinitely good enough

Front cover: Annie Stephens in her apartment at James Wattie.

Ryman Healthcare Ltd

Airport Business Park 92 Russley Road, Christchurch PO Box 771, Christchurch 8042 0800 588 222 rymanhealthcare.co.nz

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LASER FOCUS FOR NEW CHAIR Keeping residents safe and fulfilled, empowering the team and being laser-focused on delivering for shareholders and our wider stakeholders are top of the bill for new chair Greg Campbell.

Two months into his new role as chair of Ryman Healthcare, Greg Campbell could be forgiven for feeling like he is in the eye of the hurricane.

After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is all hands to the pump as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads quickly in New Zealand after spreading rapidly through Victoria.

While there are plenty of challenges, he doesn’t look the type to panic.

“I’m not a jump up and down sort of person, I don’t really get rattled,’’ he says.

“The fact is there will always be problems to face, the key thing is how you respond to them.’’

He definitely sounds like a subscriber to the ‘glass half full’ philosophy of life.

“In a funny way COVID has given us an opportunity to shine.

It brings focus to what is really important to a business, it helps to get a lot of noise off the table that isn’t necessary.’’

Despite extended lockdowns, disruptions and clinical challenges, COVID has underlined for residents the advantages of living in a supportive retirement community, he says.

“It is always hard to know what the future holds. One thing I know for sure is that our team has left no stone unturned in understanding how to keep everyone safe.’’

As proof he points to Ryman Australia’s recent win in the Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s COVIDSafe awards for the most innovative response to the pandemic.

And then there’s the fact that new residents are moving into villages on the strength of how Ryman has responded to COVID – because they and their families recognise the benefits of living in a supportive community, with help at hand.

Greg has plenty of experience at handling problems. He’d had a long career as a CEO before he moved into full time governance last year.

His CV includes large scale organisations in New Zealand and Australia, most recently two Christchurch icons, Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation and Agribusiness Ravensdown.

Those roles have given him a strong interest in ethical investing, as well as environmental sustainability. He walks the sustainability talk, driving an electric car, and is keen to see progress on sustainability issues.

He also has wide-ranging board experience as a chair and as a director. So, not only does he have experience of running complicated organisations, he also knows what it is like to walk in the board’s shoes.

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“The way I think about it is that directors are there for the grey issues. When matters are black and white it’s important for management to deal with it, that happens automatically.

“It’s the areas of ambiguity, the really grey areas, where a board can help. There’s plenty of grey matter around the table at board level.’’

He sees his role and that of the wider board as doing everything possible to make the leadership team successful, and he has a clear vision of what success looks like.

We are fortunate to have an experienced, skilled, and thoughtful board supporting a wonderful team from Richard our CEO to our frontline staff.

“For Ryman to succeed we need to stay relevant, delight residents, make staff feel valued and continue to reward shareholders for their investment,’’ he says.

“I feel very proud to be the chairman of Ryman. It’s a successful iconic business with a fantastic legacy of success and care for people and we want to get even better. Honouring the heritage left by others before us whilst casting our future direction.

“I am really energised about what the opportunities could be.’’

Pictured top: Greg Campbell with Peter and Graig.

Pictured bottom: Greg with a Ryman’s Kevin Hickman construction team.

KEN ROCKWOOD WINS 2021 RYMAN PRIZE Canadian academic, geriatrician, and anti-ageing campaigner Professor Kenneth Rockwood won the 2021 Ryman Prize.

Professor Rockwood is a professor of medicine and neurology at Dalhousie University based in Halifax and won the prize for developing his clinical frailty index which is used in health care systems around the world.

He says that hospitals and medical clinics do not always cope well with people who are frail, despite it becoming an increasingly common factor in ageing.

As people age, they often develop more complex health issues with multiple conditions (comorbidities) that impact on their overall health.

This is a challenge for healthcare systems primarily designed to focus on specialties, which are not well equipped to deal with complexity. Health professionals in one specialty are often unaware of other issues that might be affecting their patient.

To effectively treat the patient without making them feel worse, understanding is needed of how frailty is impacting on them, and communication with older people about their health is vital.

The clinical frailty index takes a person’s comorbidities into account to help quantify the degree of frailty they have, making diagnosis and treatment more accurate and effective.

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“We need people who can understand the most common things that go awry with ageing, and how to deal with them,” says Professor Rockwood.

“I am extremely grateful for the Ryman award, I’m really glad they’ve set it up the way they have, to raise interest in people. I hadn’t thought of myself as an anti-ageism campaigner, but frailty is a way to challenge ageism.

“You have to do it with a lot of heart or none of it will work.”

Pictured: Ryman Group CEO Richard Umbers with Professor Ken Rockwood.

AUSTRALIAN TEAM WINS PRAISE FOR COVID RESPONSE Ryman Healthcare’s “ahead of the curve” approach to keeping residents and staff safe from COVID-19 has been recognised as the gold standard for Victorian businesses.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced that Ryman won the ‘Innovation’ category of the inaugural COVIDSafe Business Awards.

The award recognises Ryman’s industry-leading innovations, including moving staff who were vulnerable to contracting the virus into its villages, developing a digital contact-tracing tool, and being the first aged care provider in Victoria to introduce rapid antigen testing of visitors.

The awards judging panel, chaired by Victorian Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Paul Guerra, said Ryman’s response “helped save lives”.

“The judges thought this was a fabulous response that

was ahead of the curve in preparedness,” the panel said.

“There was a clear level of care, compassion and selflessness in the actions taken and their efforts and commitment helped save lives.”

The Victorian COVIDSafe Business Awards were established to recognise industry leaders who have been exemplars in their response to the pandemic.

Ryman Healthcare Australian CEO Cameron Holland said the win was a great recognition of the company’s ongoing fight against the virus.

“COVID-19 continues to create new challenges for all sectors, and the aged care sector in particular,” he said.

“Our response requires the kindness and professionalism of hundreds of frontline staff who work tirelessly to ensure they are doing the right thing every day.”

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Mr Holland said when COVID-19 first emerged as a threat in early 2020, the company “moved heaven and earth to ensure our villages would be as safe as possible for our residents”.

“Two years on we continue to take the approach that no stone will be left unturned, and no expense spared, to protect society’s most vulnerable people from the virus.

“That requires a constant focus on innovation and out-of-the box thinking, and a mindset that we need to be really agile in responding to a constantly-evolving threat.

“The emergence of the Omicron variant has put the entire aged care sector under a massive strain, and we’ve had to draw on all our resources and expertise to keep our villages operating safely.”

Pictured: The Nellie Melba Retirement Village team during the vaccination drive.

HANG ON TO YOUR HARD HATS!

Deborah Cheetham, Ocean Grove, AU It’s all part of our long-term plan to build as many Ryman communities as we can to meet the enormous demand ahead.

The demand is being driven by the “baby boomers” generation who are beginning to move into our villages, looking for somewhere beautiful to live, with care on hand if they need it.

Spending on construction and land purchases at Ryman now exceeds $800 million per year! And, because we like to do most of our construction and design with our amazing internal teams, we need to employ a lot of specialists!

The process starts with buying the right land in the right places, designing beautiful villages, consulting with neighbours and councils in order to get the plans approved, built, and making sure everyone gets home safe every day.

And, of course, there is another group of specialists doing all the behind scenes stuff including keeping an eye on costs, buying the right materials at the right time, and paying the bills.

Kevin Hickman, Christchurch, NZ

We have a conveyor belt of work on the go with villages all in different stages of development, but all moving through the process for delivery to happy residents.

Another way to think of it is that we are building villages in “batches”.

In Victoria the next batch closest to completion includes Nellie Melba, John Flynn, Charles Brownlow and Deborah Cheetham.

Nellie Melba has been open the longest and is in its final stages.

John Flynn at Burwood East, and Charles Brownlow at Highton, are at a similar stage, with residents already living in the villages and the care and village centres open.

Deborah Cheetham at Ocean Grove is not far behind, and has been so successful we’ve decided to expand the village.

Next in the line is Raelene Boyle in Aberfeldie, which is about to open its doors to its first Melbourne residents.

In New Zealand, the latest batch in the final stages of Ryman Times • 8

construction are Murray Halberg and William Sanders in Auckland, and Linda Jones in Hamilton.

The next villages coming along nicely are Miriam Corban in Auckland, James Wattie in Havelock North and Kevin Hickman in Christchurch. All have residents living in their first stages, and their village centres are well on the way.

Coming close behind is the newest generation of villages. Ringwood East and Highett in Melbourne are next in line for our Australian team. In New Zealand Takapuna and Kohimarama in Auckland and Park Terrace and Northwood in Christchurch are coming up fast.

During 2021 we bought five new sites: Karaka and Cambridge in New Zealand, and Essendon, Mulgrave, and Kealba in Melbourne.

So, 2022 is looking even busier again. Hang on to your hard hats!

OUR PIPELINE OF VILLAGES

Villages

Design

Consenting

Council approval

Construction

William Sanders Charles Brownlow Nellie Melba Murray Halberg Linda Jones John Flynn Miriam Corban James Wattie Deborah Cheetham Raelene Boyle Keith Park Kevin Hickman Takapuna Highett Ringwood East Northwood Kohimarama Park Terrace Mt Eliza Karori Mt Martha Newtown Cambridge Essendon Karaka Mulgrave Kealba The pipeline is subject to resource and building consent and various regulatory approvals.

Village open

Final stages

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PREDATOR TRAP PRODUCTION IN FULL SWING Ryman residents across multiple villages are joining in a concerted plan to trap more of the pests, such as stoats and rats, that have a devastating impact on New Zealand native birds and the wider environment.

Since 2019, Charles Upham Retirement Village and a dedicated band of residents have been at the forefront of a coordinated approach to control vermin with pest traps. The village has built traps for many areas in Canterbury and beyond.

Last year the residents of Ryman’s Julia Wallace village, in Palmerston North built traps for use in the North Island.

Now residents of three Christchurch villages, including Diana Isaac, Anthony Wilding and Charles Upham, are in the process of building 200 new traps for the Doubtful Valley, located in the South Island high country near Lewis Pass.

You could say those in these village groups are eco-warriors. Aged 70 years and more they’re happy to dedicate their time and energy on the ‘predator-free’ project.

More recently Lynn has been liaising with others, including John Hindle and John Jennings of Anthony Wilding village and Gary Archbold from Diana Isaac to help with the massive build order.

Lynn Andrews, a former watchmaker who has the expertise to make sure wooden trap housings are built to specification, is helping streamline the Ryman Healthcare multi-village approach.

John Hindle says Anthony Wilding has a keen group of about 10 residents ready to assemble the traps. The DoC mechanisms have already arrived and Lynn has already delivered screws and washers to help with the assembly of the traps, while they await the timber.

From his Charles Upham home Lynn has discovered hundreds of traps are needed. It is hoped that the numbers of stoats, rats and other types of pest will fall significantly as a result of the setting of the snares, he says.

The wooden housings have been built so that other native species cannot be caught by accident.

Lynn remembers back to around June 2019 when the first set of traps were delivered to the Medbury Reserve – not too far from the iconic Hurunui hotel.

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“It’s supposed to arrive all pre-cut… we’re just assembling it,” John says.

Resident Gary Archbold says a group at Diana Isaac is in a similar position, and has plans to put together about 70 traps.

Pictured above: Lynn Andrews, environmentalist Sean Ellis and Charles Upham resident Ross Stewart.

SAILING INTO A RYMAN VILLAGE TO AVOID COVID Polly Milnes once sailed the high seas with her husband; now she is taking shelter from the Covid storm in Charles Upham Retirement Village.

Polly, aged in her roaring seventies, left her “very nice” three-bedroom Halswell home in suburban Christchurch last week, to move into Ryman’s Charles Upham village in Rangiora.

Her bid to find security in a pandemic world is part of a trend since Covid-19 loomed.

Pensioners have been heading for the security of retirement villages since 2020, Retirement Villages Association executive director John Collyns told Stuff reporters.

“We found that during, and immediately after the lockdown, the number of inquiries about moving to a retirement village dramatically shot up,” he says.

and safety remain, two years after the initial outbreak.

Covid prompted Polly to take the step years earlier than intended, she says.

“I moved into this nice bungalow, and I had lovely neighbours and everything was all hunky-dory until we got Covid,” she says.

“My step-son and his partner are over at Akaroa and when we got locked down I was in nobody’s bubble,” she says.

“The neighbours are lovely.

But they were in their own family bubbles. I found it very lonely.

The more I thought about it, the more I thought to myself I’m going to have to rethink my life.

“I’m sure what I have done now would have happened eventually [but Covid] has made me rethink and just brought forward my actual original plans.”

“It was not only from intending residents, but also from their kids, who were worried about their parents living in the family home during a time of lockdown, and seeing the problem of mental health, which older people in the community suffered.”

And Polly was far from alone in her rethink. She’s so far from alone that she had to wait eight months for a Charles Upham townhouse. Her friend Margaret found an assisted-living apartment more quickly.

As Omicron looms, the same principles of concern

“We moved for the same reason, feeling that we wanted to be in a Ryman Times • 12

caring community. Similar people under an umbrella of security, that’s the main reason that I’ve moved,” Polly says.

“I still have my independence, but there’s somebody here if you need any help,” she says.

“Covid could get in here, who knows? But you’re in a community, you’re not battling or wallowing around on your own. You feel part of a team, an old team, but a team.”

After years sailing with her husband, then taking cruises, Polly has now berthed in Rangiora, with Covid curtailing her wanderlust. Her last trip was a 75-day cruise, but she’s OK with where she’s found herself.

“Somebody is quoted as saying once you’re in, it’s like being on holiday with your own furniture, and I can reinforce that.”

Adapted from original story by Stuff reporter Kevin Norquay.

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JOHN CALLEN WINS EQUITY AWARD While Kiwi actor John Callen was officially announced as the Equity Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award 2021 winner in August last year, the actual presentation finally took place in Auckland.

With the delay caused by the August lockdown and then the surge of the Omicron variant threatening to play havoc once more, it was a relief to finally see the veteran actor formally recognised.

Amongst those paying tribute to the well-loved actor in person were fellow thespians Jennifer Ward-Lealand, who is also Equity NZ President, Michael Hurst and Miriama McDowell.

A major highlight was a pre-recorded message from British actor Sir Ian McKellen who recalled what a privilege it was to work with John on The Hobbit movies.

Everyone who spoke at the ASB Waterfront Theatre presentation praised his many years as a theatre, television and film actor, plus his directing, teaching and voiceover talents, with all agreeing that first and foremost he was a ‘really good human’.

“As well as his huge talent and wonderfully distinctive voice, John is a loyal and active union member and an industry leader who is unfailingly generous in

supporting those pursuing this profession,” said Jennifer.

“Over the last four decades he has been a teacher and mentor to many emerging actors in Aotearoa.

“Equity New Zealand is proud and delighted to recognise John’s enormous contribution to our industry.”

John was nominated for the prestigious award, which Ryman Healthcare sponsors each year, by his fellow actors before being selected by the Equity NZ Board.

From The Hobbit films, Close to Home and The Rainbow Warrior, to Goodbye Pork Pie, The Luminaries and many more in between, John has brought his immense presence to a myriad of screen roles.

In the theatre arena John has performed in or directed over 100 plays, most recently treading the boards at the Pop Up Globe Theatre.

John’s credits as a director include TV commercials, documentaries, and many episodes of Shortland Street.

“To receive this award as an acknowledgement of what we do as storytellers is a joy any actor would be thrilled and humbled to receive,” John said.

“To be in such august company is something I never expected.

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“We must always learn from the past, plan for the future, but most importantly live in the moment.

The youth of today are the keepers of culture for the generations to come.”

Representing Ryman Healthcare was Senior Community Relations Representative Steph Cawte who stepped up to present the award to John.

“This award is a highlight in our calendar each year and Ryman Healthcare is proud to have been asked to support this award each year,” Steph said.

“John is a truly outstanding talent and has been a generous contributor to the arts in this country, and we cannot thank him enough for all he has done to make our world a more entertaining place.

“I’d like to thank John, on behalf of all our residents, and also on behalf of all Kiwis and audiences over the years who have been mesmerised by John in his many roles.”

Ryman Healthcare has supported the Equity Lifetime Achievement Award since its inception in 2015.

Pictured: Ryman Healthcare Senior Community Relations Representative Steph Cawte, John Callen and Equity president Jennifer Ward-Lealand.

‘OLD BIRD’ LOVING HER NEW LIFE IN A RYMAN VILLAGE James Wattie apartment resident, Annie Stephens describes herself as ‘a pretty active old bird’, but she still takes the time to smell the roses and enjoy the country atmosphere that surrounds the village.

Annie is a practising mixed media artist and exhibits her contemporary works in the local gallery, Muse. She has also featured in the trendy ‘Urbis’ magazine and ‘House and Garden’.

“My spare room is my studio – the light is magnificent, and I look out over the beautiful hills. I absolutely love my apartment. The location is amazing, and I have fallen in love with the village.

“I have produced a lot of work since I have been here and that means I am happy.

“I go to the movies and do all my shopping. Everything’s rideable if I wish, or an easy walk or drive. I go on my old lady bike.

“It’s unbelievably beautiful by the river with newly planted natives and huge old oak and walnut trees.”

“I have adopted three glorious friends here.

We have such a lot of fun and I love hearing their laughter.”

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Creative and active, Annie enjoys both friendships and activities within and outside the village, swimming three times a week in Ahuriri with her buddies the ‘Mermaids’.

“I ride my bike daily and love going down a country road, feeding the cows and picking roses. I am in heaven.”

Anne looks forward to when she can travel again and see her family and grandchildren who she misses dearly.

Pictured: Annie Stephens in her apartment at James Wattie.

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LETTERS FROM SCHOOLCHILDREN MAKE RESIDENTS’ DAY Residents at Grace Joel Retirement Village were thrilled to receive a very thoughtful delivery from nearby St Heliers School.

While the traditional in-person visits are temporarily off the agenda during the Omicron outbreak, the 26 children of Ms Sarah Mill’s Year 4 class took pencil to paper to write to the residents instead.

The children, mostly aged eight or nine, described details about their family life, their interests, favourite foods and best subjects at school.

“I enjoy going to water parks and playing laser tag. I hate nuts,” wrote Emily Ball, who added that she prefers chocolate cake instead.

The letters were received with much delight from residents, said Activities Coordinator Avrill Burchell.

“The residents all felt that since the children took the time to write, they should respond, as letter writing is a dying talent.”

Two of the residents, Cliff Hart and Jim Espie, both happen to be former pupils of St Heliers School and couldn’t wait to write back.

“It was a lovely surprise to receive the letters,” said Jim. “It’s not the sort of thing that you get every week!

“And the fact that it was my old school gave it an added attraction for me.”

Cliff says the teacher that made the biggest impact on him was called George Thomas Montague Browne and describes how he would travel every day from Castor Bay to teach the children.

Jim, being just a couple of years older than Cliff at 97, also remembers Mr Browne, Ryman Times • 19

and has a very clear memory of the day one of the more curious children walked up to the front of the class to take a look up Mr Browne’s empty sleeve!

“He was looking for the arm, which he didn’t have,” laughed Jim at the memory.

Year 4 teacher Sarah Mill said the idea came about for an exercise called ‘writing for a purpose’ and then all the letters were put into an envelope with a stamp on and mailed, in true old-school fashion!

While the children awaited their replies, she said: “I’m so pleased the residents enjoyed the letters.

“We would normally come up to Grace Joel for a visit but until we can be face to face, we might do another writing exercise.”

Pictured: Resident Jim Espie with one of the letters from the schoolchildren.

A HUGE HUG THAT’S DEFINITELY GOOD ENOUGH To say Jenny and Roy Hardie were excited about their son Terry’s return would be a massive understatement.

‘Welcome Terry’ on their face masks as an extra welcoming gesture as they leapt up to wrap him in their arms.

The couple, who live at Jane Mander Retirement Village, were up at the crack of dawn on Monday to drive down from Whangarei to Auckland and meet him at the airport.

“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” said Jenny, her smiling eyes shining with tears.

“I was too excited to sleep anyway so it was no problem getting up early,” laughs Jenny.

The last time they saw their older son was in June 2019 when they flew out to California to spend time with him.

This time, Terry was flying in from San Francisco, via Los Angeles, a 22-hour trip all up which touched down at 7.45am.

A tension-filled hour later, he finally walked through the arrivals gate.

Showing their sense of fun and humour, the pair wrote

Matching her smile beneath his mask, Terry described the first hug as ‘magic’.

Jenny and Roy, who have lived at Jane Mander for two years, were making Terry’s favourite sausages and mash for dinner that night and had already ordered the pizzas for a pizza party for Terry the following day, with an extra big batch of Jenny’s delicious Baileys made specially as a treat for the occasion.

The couple plan to introduce their son to their neighbours in their part of the village, who, due to being at the top of the hill, call themselves the hillbillies!

IT consultant Terry is over in New Zealand for five weeks.

As a trustee for the Orca Research Trust based at Tutukaka he is busy with work commitments for them in the mornings as well as spending time with Jenny and Roy. Between them, Terry and his brother Tony have lodged 38 patents for technologyrelated developments.

“We are so proud of him and Tony,” said Jenny.

“We are travelling back with Terry to the States this year for two months so that we can visit Tony and our twin grandchildren in Seattle.”

She added: “I’m just buzzing at the moment. I have to pinch myself that he’s actually here with us. Both Roy and I are feeling really good!”

Pictured: Jenny and Roy Hardle with their son Terry.