LARA LODGE CARE HOME
Life Lived Well
Life at Lara Lodge Care Home isnt about retiring from life - its more about moving into a Home that you can really call your own and getting the support, assistance and care that you are looking for. The location of Lara is so close to rural Pukehangi that the background sounds of cows mooing, horses neighing and chooks clucking blends nicely into our lifestyle along with the bird song from the resident feathered families in our gardens. Situated in an attractive cul-de-sac where we have great neighbours and a good repoire with. The property is more or less an acre where we have some nice varieties of established rhododendrons, camellias, flowering cherry, hostas, hellabors, roses, spring bulbs, natives and more. Embracing the garden to table ethos, we began planting our own vegetable, herb & fruit gardens to ensure our meals have spray free goodies included in our chefs creative menus.
We welcome you to come visit, check us out and meet the staff and those that have made themselves at home. Come take the time you need to have a good look round, we want you to be free to ask all the questions you need to. Whether you or your loved one is looking for a short stay or a new home, stay for a cuppa & supper or join us for a meal, let us treat you to hospitality Lara Lodge style.
LIFE AT LARA
Live Lived Well
Lara Lodge Care Home offers the best of residential care in a stand alone Home in Rotorua. Offering you a warm, secure, comfortable, clean and healthy environment, we provide options that are not one-size-fits-all.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
Welcome
Lara Lodge offers you the comfort, style, atmosphere and values that you would hope to find in a loving, caring and friendly home. Excellence of care is paramount to the team that work together to ensure that your needs are well taken care of 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Staff are passionate about the areas that they serve in, whether cleaning, cooking, gardening, activities, admin, maintenance, care-giving or nursing. Each person loves what they do and they encourage one another to go the extra mile in our service here.
Being certified by the Ministry of Health NZ, to provide residential care services to folk needing or looking for rest home level care, respite care, palliative care; we have the right staff in a lovely homely setting.
For more information, give us a call today.
Lara Lodge is a large Family style semi-colonial looking Home. Once the home of a local respected Maori Land Court Judge who absolutely loved the garden. The next owners converted the property to a rest home and over many years Lara Lodge was known as a sort of boutique style residence, more along the lines of a private B&B Hotel. The current owners Walter and Teresa purchased Lara Lodge in early 2017 with a desire to embrace and build into the original vision of excellence of care.
A rather remarkable dedicated team of staff are well equipped to listen to the needs of each resident in order to understand how the best possible care, support and assistance that is specific and appropriate to each undividual can be given.
Who comes here? There are a variety of reasons a person would choose to come to Lara Lodge Care Home and this may be because an illness or disabiliity has bought limitations. Perhaps it is the later years of life that has seen challenges that require a modifying of decisions and actions. Loneliness and social isoloation may have precipated such a move.
The Home has generous sized individual bedrooms most with en-suite bathroom (WC & basin). Separate bathrooms, 3 separate lounges a large semi formal dining room, central kitchen and nursing station. An extensive rear north facing deck faces the private garden. Nurses and 24/7 care staff along with the kitchen, cleaning, gardening and maintenance team are here to ensure that living life well is for real.
SOME OF WHAT WE DO
Living and Thriving
To live and thrive in a healthy, comfortable, clean environment means more than just a building - we need a home. Its the things that take place inside and out that contribute to health and well-being. That might be something as simple as fresh flowers on the tables each week or time spent over a cuppa together. With an emphasis on joyful activities, good food, great care, less waste with the aim to live, do and bring life.
ACTIVITIES
Planned and Spontaneous
Lead by some really neat people, we enjoy outings, events, celebrations, reading, music, games, puzzles, crafts, exercise, movies, bingo, happy hour, fund raising, nibble making, gardening, walks, visiting speakers, musicians, singers, Church service, drama.....
FOOD IS FUEL - FOOD IS FUN
Food is Life
Our Chef and kitchen team work with the clinicians to ensure that the menus created are nutritionally designed to meet individual needs. We aim to make meal times a great experience with a balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, carbs, fish and meats. Its good to know that the fruit & veg we grow is spray free. We enjoy a variety of home baking, snacks and nibbles along with teas, coffees, juices, smoothies, shakes & filtered water.
CARE
When and How you need it
Along with our nurse and your chosen supporter/s, your doctor and when necessary other medical specialists a plan of care is decided upon and then worked out - together. We provide the support that is required to ensure that this plan is lived out in the best possible way by the big and small tasks we do with and for you.
CELEBRATIONS
Making the most of Life
We’re passionate about providing opportunities to celebrate and doing it well.
Whether that's a birthday, a national day like Waitangi or ANZAC, anniversaries, holidays, St Paddys, Christmas, Easter, Valentines, Matariki, festivals, cultural events.
We aim to make the most of celebrating the things that matter to those that live here.
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
Recycle, Reduce Waste, Grow
Our worm farms are thriving on the left over raw foods from our kitchen and in turn they give back worm tea and castings to feed the soil that produces the edible and non edible gardens. Our Bokashi bins get their fill from the raw and cooked leftovers and after a few weeks the broken down scraps are composted back into the soil building it up from underneath. The composts are developed with layers of green and brown vegetation and bring added sustenance to our plantings. Basic things like the picked flowers that are enjoyed fresh in the Home are then discarded back to the soil. Rain water is caught and given to the plants. We work at and aim to be as green, clean with minimal waste, recycling and upcycling where-ever possible. Growing food & plantings where-ever & whenever we can knowing that it will be chemical free and enjoyed fresh.
FUN TIMES
Nourish Your Soul
We love celebrating birthdays, valentines New Year, Christmas with parties,multiple trees, carols (to name a few), Easter - we have an annual Easter Egg Hunt. Oh what fun that is! Halloween: Trick or Treat at our Place for sure. Thanksgiving Dinner are some of our regular happenings.
For more information, give us a call today.
MEET THE TEAM
Everyday People doing the Extraordinary
It’s comforting to know that you’re not alone when you need assistance. The dedicated staff at Lara Lodge Care Home are on call 24/7 in order to serve our residents’ needs. Whether it’s an unusual medication schedule or there’s a health emergency in the middle of the night, our well trained staff are able to handle things well.
We have a Team & Family approach to what we do, with a "work in with each other ethos." We wont get everything right - however we will try hard to get things as right as possible.
CARERS
A M A Z I N G
Wendy H 18 years here. Donna W 13 years here. Darly C is an RN from India and 9 years here. Anju V is an RN from India and 31/2 years here. Lisa S and Losa A both here for 4 years. Marilyn C & Vicki B both have 20 years caregiving experience & came here last year. Srijana A is an RN from Nepal who came to Lara as a student and stayed as did Kuljit K from India. Gracie Hayes (SN in her 3rd year).
Experienced, educated, professional, caring, enthusiastic, believably good only begins to describe this outstanding group of people.
NURSES
Greeshma Midhunkumar Clinical Lead
Selena O'Doherty Senior RN
Mellisa TeRauna EN
Selena hails from the 'Naki. She is a special person that empathy and care just flow from. An experienced acute setting RN with a huge heart full of kindness and compassion for people and it shows in her role here at Lara. She is adventurous, a traveller, has a pastoral background as well as being a mum and doting grandmother!
Musical Mellisa has worked at Lara Since the end of 2016. She has a big heart and a beautiful voice and lucky for us we often get to enjoy her singing and her hugs! She is exact in her care of others. Mellisa is a doting wife, mum and grandmother with years of nurse and caregiving experience.
Greeshma has worked at Lara since the year we took over Lara Lodge (2017). She has proved that she is passionate about the care of older folk, she is a true team player and an outstanding nurse. Greeshma is a vibrant, confident, caring woman who loves her work, her very supportive husband and now her gorgeous baby boy!
THE KITCHEN STAFF
Chef: Greg Patterson
Janice C, Bronwyn B, Brittany S, the Scheers.
Chef Greg works on arranging a non-rotating menu, but ensures that 'favourites are regulars on the menu. His passion and creativity for food and the care of our elders through good nutrition is evident in all he plans, purchases and prepares. The rest of the team work part time & each have their own strengths. Janice boasts the title of being the longest serving staff member at Lara and celebrates her 20th year here February 2021. Bronwyn worked for many years in a childrens Health Camp and brings a weath of experience also since her arrival in 2018. Brittany the newest member of the team is our hydration assistant ensuring everyone is well watered! Walter a european trained chef with a hotel management background loves sharing ideas, knowledge and practical helps.
HOUSEKEEPING
Cheryl W, Lisa S, Tebeti T.
With a eye for detail the cleaning team take a professional approach to all aspects of home grooming and deep cleaning. The girls know that what they do makes a difference in the day to day lives of each resident and thats the approach they take to the big and little things. Infection control is a priority with all our staff including the housekeepers.
ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR and ACTIVITIES TEAM
Tricia Yates
Marilyn C, Keshar K, Gracie H
Having worked as an activities director for 15 years in the U.S. Tricia leads a hands on initiative of regular 'activities with purpose' during the week. Tricia also ensures that we have regular visits from musicians, church groups, childrens groups (schools & day care) artists and groups and people of interest.
Brain games and exercises start the day off followed by things like current affairs, story telling, crafts, games, manicures, outings, Happy Hour, movie times, music times. Gracie is a student nurse that brings a lot of fun to the house in the weekends with her creative approach to activities. Marilyn comes with an extensive HCA background and also several years of diversional therapy practise, her co-ordinated approach along with a lot of laughter ensures the days activities are anything but boring. Keshar hails from Nepal where he trained and worked as a physiotherapist. His systematic and 'lets keep moving approach' to the days acitivities provide plenty of stimulation to aid strength & balance.
OWNER OPERATOR
Walter and Teresa Scheer
They say opposites attract and this couple agree. Decades together has taught them a few things about getting on with & in life. They say its their differences that bring about a synergy that aids them to live out their ethos and passion to serve with excellence. They uphold the values of servant leadership and believe in bottom up not top down!
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards”
Soren Kierkegaard
CONTACT
4 Pegasus Dr, Sunnybrook, Rotorua 3015, New Zealand
07-347 7604
