George’s story: “HBH has a big heart, rather than big pockets.”
George and his family (wife and 4 children) emigrated from South Africa to New Zealand over 40 years ago, leaving behind a successful construction business and family and friends to provide their children with a better future and more freedom.
“We had a very nice life in South Africa, my business was doing well, and we never had to worry about money,” says George. “But we were worried about the future of our children and decided to leave for that reason. When we arrived in New Zealand, it was much more difficult than we thought – and we went from not having to worry about money to having to worry about it all the time.” George says that despite the hardship, he and his wife never regretted the move. Their children now all have university degrees and have built successful careers in New Zealand and Australia.
Now in his 80s, life has not been smooth sailing for George over the past few years. Since retiring he became the main caregiver to his wife who suffered badly from rheumatoid arthritis and other complications. During that period, George’s wife went into respite care at Gulf Views and that was George’s first experience of HBH’s care facilities. “We looked at other places in the area and decided on Gulf Views for her stay. It was the best decision,” he says. “She was happy there and while she hated being away from me, it worked out very well.”
Unfortunately, George’s wife required respite care again after a stint in hospital and was unable to go to Gulf Views at the time. “She very reluctantly went to another home, and it reinforced for both of us how special Gulf Views was in comparison.”
George continued to care for his wife at home between hospital and respite stays and when she sadly passed away last year, he went to live with his daughter who converted her garage to a granny flat for him to live in. When he suffered a heart attack and required respite care before being able to return home, he knew exactly where he wanted to go. “I said to the medical staff, ‘if I can’t go to Gulf Views, I’m going home’.” Fortunately, Gulf Views is now one of the only care homes that offers advance bookings for respite care, and George’s hope was realised.
“I said I’ll be back!”
George believes that, as well as the beautiful sea views, it’s the staff who make Gulf Views. “I’ve never met such wonderful people in my life. They are angels. When my wife was there, they went out of their way to ensure she was welcomed and felt at home. After seeing the opposite of this, I now know how this can be hard to find and the difference it makes.”
Now that he has experienced Gulf View’s respite care for himself, George says the food was great too. “I teased the cook that they’d need to come home with me!”, he laughs. George has now returned home to the granny flat and is taking things easy as he settles back into life after his heart attack. “When I left Gulf Views, it was like saying goodbye to old friends,” he says. “I said that when I need full-time care I’ll be back – so save me a space!”
As someone who has experienced both having money and struggling financially, George reflects how fortunate we are to have care homes that are charities such as HBH Gulf Views in the local community. “I feel so lucky that this level of care was available to both of us. It’s so important that everyone can be cared for with dignity, kindness and respect in their later life and that is what HBH does. It has a big heart, rather than big pockets.”