Leighton House

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Stay up to date with what is going on at Leighton via our facebook page and articles from our newsletter below.

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Magic moments in our home

We recently had a ukulele group come for the first time to entertain our residents. Wow, what a spectacular show they put on! They wore white shirts and vests which incorporated a paua shell design. Matching hats finished off their outfits. They looked very flash & professional.  They played and sung so harmoniously and loud. It was like listening to a record! They had us all singing along with them, enjoying every minute. Afterwards, all our residents were so happy and couldn’t stop talking about it.  They loved the ukulele sound and they knew all the songs. Most of the residents have asked us to get them back again. The residents loved their outfits, and their songs and music were out of this world.

Yesterday when I came to work, I heard the residents shouting my name. A resident was asking the other staff why he did not see me for a few days. I was sick last week. I went over to see him and he asked where I had been. I noticed his face light up and both of us had a laugh. I felt glad, it’s nice to know I was missed.

  • Welcome to winter in Gisborne from the team at Leighton House

    As the temperatures dropped, Gisborne revealed a quieter, more peaceful beauty. The crisp air, stunning coastal vistas, and golden winter sun make this season a special time to experience the East Coast’s magic. Whether it’s cosying up at a local café, exploring breathtaking coastal walks, or witnessing the first sunrise in the world, winter in Gisborne is nothing short of enchanting. Bundle up, embrace the season, and enjoy the serene charm of winter in our slice of paradise!

    Over the cooler months our residents have enjoyed live music as well as baking, van outings, indoor bowls, brain games, flower arranging and other crafts. Last week our Activities Team even hosted a karaoke afternoon – where Rodney, our Operations Manager was invited to sing!

    Over the last couple of months, we have enjoyed some fantastic celebrations as Leighton House continues its commitment to supporting individuals within our home and the wider community.

    Our dedicated Activities Team put together a delightful Easter trolley, beautifully decorated and brimming with colourful Easter eggs. This thoughtful gesture brought joy and festive cheer to everyone, creating a warm and celebratory atmosphere for the occasion.

    Our residents celebrated Mother’s Day with a high tea. It was a truly delightful occasion for our wonderful mothers to connect, share stories, and celebrate motherhood together. Some of their family members also came to join in the celebration.

    Residents created beautiful stars in celebration of Matariki, which we displayed at the entrance and throughout the facility. Our Activities Coordinator shared the meaning behind the Matariki stars and their significance. In the afternoon, our residents also enjoyed a lively happy hour, complete with a sausage sizzle.

    To prepare for winter respiratory illnesses, our staff and residents received flu vaccinations in April and May. Additionally, some residents received COVID-19 vaccines on April 5. For those who had a COVID infection in the past six months, a second batch of COVID vaccinations is scheduled for July.

    Our new Operations Coordinator, Rodney started working at Leighton House. He says, “The staff are warm, friendly and supportive. No two days are ever the same. I always look forward to starting my day, eager to see what activities are planned for our lovely residents. They stay busy with engaging routines, making each day lively. It’s wonderful to be back in healthcare”. We are very fortunate to have had Rodney join our team.

    We would like to take this opportunity to welcome other new team members too. They are Simranjeet who joins us as a Caregiver; Poonam who joins us as a Caregiver, Home Assistant and Kitchenhand; Alfonso who joins us as a Home Assistant, Kitchenhand and Relief Cook; Di who joins us as a casual Home Assistant and Kitchenhand; and Melanie who joins us as a Home Assistant and Kitchen Hand. A warm welcome to everyone. Please feel free to say hello when you see them around our home.

    Recently, we also bid a heartfelt farewell to Preet. Her commitment, empathy, and professionalism have impacted our team and enriched the lives of our residents. We wish her all the very best as she starts a new chapter in her nursing journey.

    It is that time of year again and we invite you to join us for our Mid-Winter Family Gathering on Wednesday the 23rd of July, from 2-4pm. Come and enjoy a wonderful afternoon filled with laughter, connection, and seasonal festivities. There will be delicious treats, fun activities and a chance to create lasting memories with loved ones. We would love to see you there!

    Ka Mahuta a Matariki i te pae, Ka Mahuta o tatou tumanako ki te tau.

    When Matariki rises above the horizon, our aspirations rise to the year ahead

  • Nau Mai Haere Mai…. Welcome to our first family newsletter for 2025

    We hope all of you enjoyed summer and the festive season with family and friends. We were so blessed to be able to gather over this time to enjoy this special time with our loved ones. Our team at Leighton House was so delighted to celebrate this festive season by organising our Christmas family gathering as well as our volunteers gathering. Our activities team organised several raffles. Well done to the winners!

    We enjoyed a number of van trips this summer. A big thank you to Dianne, our Activities Coordinator, for taking our residents out and about. They enjoyed going down to the beach, walking down to the botanical garden and a trip to Tairāwhiti Museum.

    Over summer, our residents enjoyed playing housie, ring toss and indoor bowls. They did baking in the River Lounge whilst overlooking the bridge and river. They also enjoyed making bookmarks and korowai. It was amazing to see how creative they can be, and how proud they were of their work.

    We always look forward to live entertainment. Thank you so much to our entertainers who take time out of their busy schedules to keep our residents entertained. Our residents have been enjoying live entertainment from Ron and Allan, Mike Mulrooney, Dave Walters, and the hospice singers.

    We would like to welcome new faces into our Leighton House team. Simarjeet, Gurveen, Kamla and Winson have joined our Caregiving team; Dianne has joined our Activities team; Tessa joins our Home Assistant team; and Karmanpreet joins our Registered Nurse team.

    Most of you will know that Preet has now qualified as a New Zealand Registered Nurse. She is stepping aside from her Operations Manager role to focus on nursing at Leighton House. This is exciting news for Preet and we are so glad that she is staying on with us.

    We are pleased to announce that our new Operations Coordinator, Rodney Rivera, will be starting at Leighton House after Easter. Rodney previously had significant experience as a Registered Nurse in the Philippines before moving to New Zealand in 2013. Rodney has since worked both in customer service roles, and as a Level 4 Caregiver in a rest home in Gisborne. He is very passionate about caring for others and he strives to bring kindness and compassion to the people he interacts with every day. We look forward to welcoming Rodney to our team.

    A reminder to all family members to please name any new clothing you bring in for your loved one, so that it can be safely returned to the correct room after it’s been laundered. You are always welcome to borrow a laundry marker from our office.

    We do hope that you are able to make the most of the last of the warmer weather as we head into autumn.

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