Expansion of dementia care in Rotorua
A karakia and blessing were performed on the new expansion of the Awhina dementia community at Bupa Redwood Care Home earlier this week with Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick in attendance.
As a provider of specialised dementia care, the 12 additional beds will now see the care home offering 43 beds to residents living with dementia.
Bupa Managing Director Carolyn Cooper says the expansion, which took twelve months to complete, also includes a communal space for residents to enjoy.
“Across New Zealand there are currently 70,000 Kiwis living with dementia… that’s almost the entire population of Rotorua. With numbers continuing to increase, the expansion blessed today will go some way to meeting the needs of the community,” Carolyn says.
The karakia was performed by Mihaere Kirkby from Ngati Whakaue iwi and the blessing from Deacon Joe Rogers, guests joined them in waiata and acknowledgement of the contractors and staff involved in the development.
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says Rotorua Council has high aspirations for what can be achieved for their vulnerable citizens, but acknowledge they’re only at the start of this journey.
“Bupa, and the Redwood Care Home are essential partners of Council in creating a truly supportive community, for people with dementia and their whanau,” Mayor Chadwick says.
During 2019, Bupa was named the first aged care provider to receive the national Dementia Friendly Award from Alzheimers New Zealand.
