WelCom October 2019:
The UN International Day of Older Persons is celebrated every year on 1 October to honour contributions older people make to society and to highlight issues that affect their lives.
On 1 October the Vincentian Home and Hospital, Wellington’s only Catholic aged-care home and hospital, will hold a fashion parade day with residents to show
that elderly people enjoy taking pride in their appearance. Several Vincentian Home staff will be wearing national costumes.
Many Catholics who live in Wellington may not be aware of the Vincentian Home and Hospital. Smaller than many others in the city, the Home has a big reputation for excellent care among residents, families and within the health-care community. Vincentian received an excellent report in September and a four-year certification in the Ministry of Health’s regular audit. A recent resident and family satisfaction survey also showed positive results. Comments included:
‘The peaceful and quiet nature of the Home, all the staff are helpful and easy to get on with.’
‘The Home has a lovely spiritual feeling about it, peaceful and lovely gardens, a sun room to relax. It has a lot going for it, the love and care shown by all the staff, it’s impossible to buy that kind of care.’
While the Vincentian Home welcomes all denominations, regular Catholic services are held there and at nearby St Joachim’s Church. For Catholic residents these services and the pastoral care provided by visiting Sisters are greatly comforting. In addition to rest home and hospital-level care, the Vincentian Home has the capacity to accommodate residents for short-term respite care. This enables family carers to take a break, knowing their relative is being safely cared for in a respectful and faith-based environment while they themselves recharge.