ADVERTISEMENT Pandemic strengthens connections in the village As Now Zealand relaxos into the freedoms of Lovol 1, the management team at Ryman Healtheare's Possum Bourne Retirement Village now have time to reflect over the rollercoaster ride they've taken over the past few months. The tight-knit group, who, with one exooption have all worked at the Pukekohe village since it first opened in 2016, say the strong level of support, communication and trust they already shared as a team has increased during the unprecedented time. "It's lovely to have a team of people that you have worked with for that length of time and you all appreciate each other and trust each other." says Village Manager Annie Bruce, who moved from the Clinical Manager position one year ago. "It means f someone is feeling a little bit more pressured and stressed the rest oan put that wrap around to support them There was certainly a vast Left to right - Clinical Manager Anne Streatfeild, Special Care Unit Coordinator Dashan Kaur, Serviced Apartment Coordinator amount of ohango in a short Sharon Wilton, Village Manager Annie Bruce, Assistant to the Manager Margaret Rakai, Hospital Unit Coordinator Sujana John and Resthome Unit Coordinator Janice Salmons. space of time as the situation rapidly evolved. "It was a bit like gotting people who had travelled training to ensure everyone losing a former colleague to coming together with staff rolling up their sleeves and "I felt very protective of our saying what can I do to holp?" Annie says al the hard work folt worthit when grateful relatives woukd leave kovely messages of thanks whilo residents would leave notes or ready for a big function or to affocted countries from know correct PPE usago the virus. ovent with all the preparation entering the villagos. axoept it just kept going on and on, says Assistant to including training to take the Covid nasal swabs. "it was good practice the lengtha our people were bubble here at the village and This was soon folowed by security checkpoints at the gates, tompeorature checks gowning up and it made you going to koep our residents and before all non-essential visits laughs were stopped altogother. Fyman made sure villages were well stocked with PPE (personal protective the Manager Margaret Rakai, a Ryman veteran of seven health declarations foel a bit ike the heroes" safe" Hospital Annie these years. Village Manager Annie Bruce agrees: "At times it was quite frightening because we really didn't know how it was going to play out. "But we found strength oquipment] and went to great from one another to lead our gtha to koep residents sae. looked after with a cooked was the idea" 200 staff and 600 residents entertained and supplied with and it really made me feel very everything they needed so grateful to be working for such they wouldn't need to leave agreat company. Annie says this is because of the decisive stops Ryman care centre couldn't mingle Streatfeild, who left her home took to proteot all of its 36 as they would normally, the villages in New Zealand and Australia Unit says Coordinator Sujana John moasures helped to change even teddies to express their who joined Possum Bourne 18 the perception amongst gratitude for everything they months ago Dashan Coordinator of the Special actually safer here with all the Care Unit, says staff also folt protections in place, and that residents 1 think peoplo Unit started to feel that thoy were wore doing "Thore was a lot of fun as well The staff would dress up in fancy dress when doing the doliveries, and the residents Kaur, While the workload just loved that. Especially meal at the village every day: "We had lots of PPE and lots increased in the villages, when Jamie the gardener of presonts. And we got a pay Ryman raise too, we feel very lucky Clinical Manager Anne to down tools on the sites to tightened the bonds betwoen deployed construction workors who had its dressed up as Batmant the safety of the village While residents in the "The exporience has come and help out with all the extra deliveries of groceries. friendships have parcels and wookly Happy which is wonderful to see." residents as well and new formed in the UK originally for the Hospital Coordinator role at the village, was very aware of Hour bags. the situation unfolding back extra check-ups and chats with staff helped to keep them Screening of visitors began connected. in late January, to provent Says Margaret: "It was The teams did regular in her home country, even heartwarming to seeeveryone Serviced apartments are now available. RYMAN PIONEERS Call Jo for more details. Togelherness POSSUM BOURNE RETIREMENT VILLAGE RYMAN 5 Lisle Farm Drice, Pukekohe, 238 o808 HEALTHCARE ADVERTISEMENT Pandemic strengthens connections in the village As Now Zealand relaxos into the freedoms of Lovol 1, the management team at Ryman Healtheare's Possum Bourne Retirement Village now have time to reflect over the rollercoaster ride they've taken over the past few months. The tight-knit group, who, with one exooption have all worked at the Pukekohe village since it first opened in 2016, say the strong level of support, communication and trust they already shared as a team has increased during the unprecedented time. "It's lovely to have a team of people that you have worked with for that length of time and you all appreciate each other and trust each other." says Village Manager Annie Bruce, who moved from the Clinical Manager position one year ago. "It means f someone is feeling a little bit more pressured and stressed the rest oan put that wrap around to support them There was certainly a vast Left to right - Clinical Manager Anne Streatfeild, Special Care Unit Coordinator Dashan Kaur, Serviced Apartment Coordinator amount of ohango in a short Sharon Wilton, Village Manager Annie Bruce, Assistant to the Manager Margaret Rakai, Hospital Unit Coordinator Sujana John and Resthome Unit Coordinator Janice Salmons. space of time as the situation rapidly evolved. "It was a bit like gotting people who had travelled training to ensure everyone losing a former colleague to coming together with staff rolling up their sleeves and "I felt very protective of our saying what can I do to holp?" Annie says al the hard work folt worthit when grateful relatives woukd leave kovely messages of thanks whilo residents would leave notes or ready for a big function or to affocted countries from know correct PPE usago the virus. ovent with all the preparation entering the villagos. axoept it just kept going on and on, says Assistant to including training to take the Covid nasal swabs. "it was good practice the lengtha our people were bubble here at the village and This was soon folowed by security checkpoints at the gates, tompeorature checks gowning up and it made you going to koep our residents and before all non-essential visits laughs were stopped altogother. Fyman made sure villages were well stocked with PPE (personal protective the Manager Margaret Rakai, a Ryman veteran of seven health declarations foel a bit ike the heroes" safe" Hospital Annie these years. Village Manager Annie Bruce agrees: "At times it was quite frightening because we really didn't know how it was going to play out. "But we found strength oquipment] and went to great from one another to lead our gtha to koep residents sae. looked after with a cooked was the idea" 200 staff and 600 residents entertained and supplied with and it really made me feel very everything they needed so grateful to be working for such they wouldn't need to leave agreat company. Annie says this is because of the decisive stops Ryman care centre couldn't mingle Streatfeild, who left her home took to proteot all of its 36 as they would normally, the villages in New Zealand and Australia Unit says Coordinator Sujana John moasures helped to change even teddies to express their who joined Possum Bourne 18 the perception amongst gratitude for everything they months ago Dashan Coordinator of the Special actually safer here with all the Care Unit, says staff also folt protections in place, and that residents 1 think peoplo Unit started to feel that thoy were wore doing "Thore was a lot of fun as well The staff would dress up in fancy dress when doing the doliveries, and the residents Kaur, While the workload just loved that. Especially meal at the village every day: "We had lots of PPE and lots increased in the villages, when Jamie the gardener of presonts. And we got a pay Ryman raise too, we feel very lucky Clinical Manager Anne to down tools on the sites to tightened the bonds betwoen deployed construction workors who had its dressed up as Batmant the safety of the village While residents in the "The exporience has come and help out with all the extra deliveries of groceries. friendships have parcels and wookly Happy which is wonderful to see." residents as well and new formed in the UK originally for the Hospital Coordinator role at the village, was very aware of Hour bags. the situation unfolding back extra check-ups and chats with staff helped to keep them Screening of visitors began connected. in late January, to provent Says Margaret: "It was The teams did regular in her home country, even heartwarming to seeeveryone Serviced apartments are now available. RYMAN PIONEERS Call Jo for more details. Togelherness POSSUM BOURNE RETIREMENT VILLAGE RYMAN 5 Lisle Farm Drice, Pukekohe, 238 o808 HEALTHCARE