WelCom October 2022
St Joseph’s Home of Compassion in Upper Hutt, a residential care home for older people that was facing imminent closure, hopes to keep its doors open, Chris Gallavin, Tumu Whakarae of the Sisters of Compassion group has announced.
‘We’re pleased to able to communicate our partnership between St Joseph’s Home of Compassion in Upper Hutt and Heritage Lifecare, which has been formulated to maintain this great home in the community,’ said Dr Gallavin.
Norah Barlow, Heritage Lifecare’s Chief Executive Officer, says, ‘This home is vitally important to the many residents, their whānau, as well as many retired sisters and priests. The partnership will be ensuring their way of life continues as we work through this time.’
Dr Gallivan said St Joseph’s has a rich history and is ‘beloved by its community’, providing care for older people in Upper Hutt for nearly 100 years. ‘Like many homes in the aged-care sector, it has gone through huge pressure over the last two years, with Covid restrictions adding to severe staffing shortages. Sisters of Compassion was facing having to close the home and try to relocate its residents away from the place they know and love,’ he said.
Heritage Lifecare says it fully recognises the staffing challenges facing the aged-care sector and intends to use its scale and resources to work alongside Sisters of Compassion, with continued engagement of Te Whatu Ora, to keep the home open for residents and staff.
‘We will do everything we can to ensure St Joseph’s remains open and continues to serve the people of the Hutt Valley’, Norah Barlow said.
‘Heritage Lifecare has 42 care homes throughout New Zealand, with deep connections to the communities it is in, and provides personal, caring support. The daily Masses enjoyed by residents and staff, and open to the community, will continue and the chapel will ensure the base of the Home of Compassion, including all the founding work from the Sisters of Compassion based on the teachings and principles of Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert.’
This is good news for all the families and friends of the residents in St Joseph’s care and for the people of Upper Hutt, says Chris Gallavin. ‘While there is a lot of work in front of us, the partnership provides the local community with a positive way forward.
‘St Joseph’s welcomes enquiries from parishioners for work in the home or care for their family, as we seek to rebuild our staffing complement,’ he said.