Eldernet

30/09/2026

Finding a dementia care home is about more than locating a vacancy.

Every home has its own environment, routines and approach to care. Asking questions can help you understand whether a home will be a good fit for the person—not just whether it has a room available.

When you visit, notice how staff interact with residents. Do they speak directly to them? Are people treated with patience and dignity? Does the environment feel calm, welcoming and lived in?

Ask how the home supports individual routines, responds when someone is distressed, trains its staff and involves family and whānau.

Where possible, include the person in the decision and think about the home they would choose for themselves.

Save this post to take these questions with you when visiting a dementia care home—or share it with someone who may find it helpful.

28/09/2026

Thank you to everyone who entered our “Show Us Your Favourite Patch” gardening competition! 🌱

We loved reading your stories and seeing the gardens you shared: residents planting seeds, a community pumpkin patch, beautiful pots on residents’ decks and some wonderfully creative vegetable patches.

Congratulations to Debbie from Hastings, who was randomly drawn as our winner! Debbie shared this lovely poem with her entry:

In sun or rain hands in the dirt
I'm wearing my gardening shirt
Getting down & dirty you know
See my flowers and veges grow
I've got a green thumb you see
A planter spot so special to me

Thank you for sharing a little piece of your garden with us. 🌻

28/09/2026

When someone you care for needs to move into residential dementia care, you may feel grief, guilt, relief—or several emotions at once.

That is understandable.

An assessment showing that someone now needs dementia-level care does not mean their family, whānau or carer has failed. It means their needs have become greater than can realistically or safely be managed at home.

The move can also bring practical responsibilities. You may need to help find a suitable care home, review legal and financial arrangements, and support the person through a significant change.

Your role will change, but it does not end. You still know the person—their routines, preferences, history and what helps them feel safe. That knowledge can help care staff understand and support them.

You remain an important part of their life, without having to carry full responsibility for their day-to-day care.

Our Knowledge Lab article talks through some of the emotional and practical steps that may come next:
https://www.eldernet.co.nz/knowledge-lab/hard-to-talk-about/navigating-dementia/dementia-care-what-does-the-carer-need-to-do

Eldernet brings the information you may need during this process together in one place. You can read practical guidance about moving into care as well as searching every residential care home in New Zealand, filter by location and dementia-level care, and see which homes are reporting vacancies.

https://www.eldernet.co.nz/residential-care/vacancies/dementia-care-secure

26/09/2026

Christchurch residents: this one's for you.

If you're considering downsizing, exploring retirement living, or helping a loved one navigate their next move, we'd love to see you at this free information session.

Please share this post with anyone who may be thinking about retirement living or planning a move in the future.

Join the team from Christrchurch for a free information session on understanding your next move with confidence. Esther Perriam, Director of Eldernet, will be speaking and answering questions, sharing practical insights to help you navigate your options and plan ahead.

📅 Wednesday 7 October, 11am
📍 Arvida, 35 Whiteleigh Avenue, Addington, Christchurch

Whether you're ready to make a move now or simply starting to think about the future, this is a great opportunity to get your questions answered in a welcoming environment.

Register here: https://bit.ly/NextStepLiving or call 021 530 434.

25/09/2026

Looking after your brain health is worthwhile at every age.

There is no guaranteed way to prevent dementia, and developing it is never someone’s fault. Some risk factors are outside our control.

However, there are everyday things we can do to support our brain health:
• Stay physically active
• Keep connected with friends, family and whānau
• Continue learning and trying new things
• Have your hearing and vision checked
• Manage conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression
• Protect your head from injury
• Avoid smoking and limit alcohol

These steps support our overall health and wellbeing too—so they are worth doing whether or not dementia becomes part of our lives.

Small actions can still make a meaningful difference.

What do you do to keep your brain active?

24/09/2026

Dementia is a complex subject, and every person’s experience is different. Over the next few weeks, we’ll share an overview of some key areas. From supporting brain health and adjusting when someone needs residential care to questions you can ask when considering a care home.

In the past, a dementia diagnosis was often seen as a fast track into a care home. Today, however, the outlook is beginning to change.

The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention found that around 45% of dementia cases could potentially be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 modifiable risk factors across our lives.

This does not mean every case can be prevented—or that developing dementia is anyone’s fault. Some risk factors are beyond our control, while others are influenced by access to healthcare, education and the environments in which we live.

There is still no cure, and a diagnosis can bring a great deal of uncertainty. But there are reasons for cautious hope.

👉🏼You can find a range of informative articles for people living with dementia, carers, families and whānau in our Knowledge Lab
https://www.eldernet.co.nz/knowledge-lab/hard-to-talk-about/navigating-dementia

23/09/2026

Considering downsizing or wondering what your next move might look like?

Join the team from Professionals Christchurch for an informative session on navigating your next housing move with confidence.

Eldernet Director, Esther Perriam, will be speaking and answering questions, alongside discussions on downsizing, planning your move, understanding your options, and what to expect throughout the process.

📅 Wednesday 7 October, 11am
📍 Arvida, 35 Whiteleigh Avenue, Addington, Christchurch

This is a great opportunity to get practical advice and have your questions answered in a welcoming, no-pressure environment.

Register here: https://bit.ly/NextStepLiving or call 021 530 434.

Know someone who may be considering a move into retirement living? Please share this post with them.

22/09/2026

Is Alzheimer's shifting from a disease we manage to one we can actually treat?

The World Alzheimer Report 2026, from Alzheimer's Disease International, says that after years of slow progress, we're now on the brink of real diagnostic and medical breakthroughs.

We're not talking about a cure — that's still a way off, and much of this is still in trials. But the shift in thinking is notable:

💊 New drugs already available overseas can slow progression in some people, by clearing the amyloid plaque that builds up years before symptoms appear
💉 Trials — some involving New Zealand — are testing whether treating people before symptoms appear could delay or prevent cognitive decline altogether
🩸 The report highlights emerging blood tests as a major development for detecting Alzheimer's earlier, with trials underway in the UK and Australia
🍅 Clinical trials also point to lifestyle changes — regular exercise, a Mediterranean-style diet, and staying socially connected — making a real difference to cognitive decline

Dr Campbell Le Heron, neurologist and Alzheimers NZ spokesperson, says these advances only matter if people can actually access them. He's calling for better diagnostic pathways, a stronger specialist workforce, more trained primary care clinicians, and investment in community-based dementia services — warning that Māori, Pacific peoples and rural communities shouldn't be left behind.

Hopeful news. But also a reminder that the system needs to be ready for it.

Full article: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/health/1483456/alzheimer-s-disease-starting-to-be-considered-a-treatable-condition-study

Alzheimer's disease is starting to be considered as a treatable and preventable condition, a major new report says.

22/09/2026

Today the Eldernet team took part in Clean Up Week with Keep New Zealand Beautiful.

We're pleased to report that New Brighton is actually looking pretty clean! Finding rubbish took more effort than expected, with our volunteers having to venture into bushes and hard-to-reach spots to uncover litter.

A huge thank you to Bunnings Warehouse New Zealand for supplying buckets, gloves and rubbish bags, and to Christchurch City Council for collecting all the rubbish we gathered.

We were also joined by the team from Niko Engineering Limited, who came along after seeing we'd signed up online. They fit right in with the team (and seemed to enjoy the savouries too!). And we're excited to hear we've inspired another local business to join us next year.

It was a rewarding way to spend the morning, and as an added bonus, we clocked up our daily step count along the way too. Winning all round!
🌿♻️👟

21/09/2026

This article about Joan Hodge is a lovely reminder of something that’s easy to forget: it’s important to keep doing the things we enjoy.

As we get older, hobbies and activities can be some of the first things to slip away. Sometimes the hardest part is simply getting started — going for the walk, picking up the paintbrush, getting back into the garden or returning to something you haven’t done for a while.

But those things are good for us. They give us something to look forward to, keep us active and engaged, and help us hold onto the parts of life that make us feel like ourselves.

You rarely regret thgetting out for walk, or spending time doing something you love.

What’s something you always feel better for doing?

Read Joan’s story here:
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/the-star/knitting-showcase-sparks-conversations-bvr8rrf9