Community
Hawthorndale Care Village $39 million aged care facility was officially opened today, celebrating the realisation of a long-held vision.
The first residents will be welcomed in May and Hawthorndale Care Village Trust chair Frank O’Boyle expressed his pride in the project, saying, “Hawthorndale Care Village is a place built by the community, for the community. It reflects the values that make us who we are—compassion, respect, and a shared commitment to care for our elderly and those living with dementia. Today, we celebrate not just a building, but a vision brought to life through the dedication and generosity of so many.”
In a heartfelt moment of reflection, the legacy of Calvary Hospital—which has served the community with compassion and care for the aged and dying for over 60 years—was also honoured at the opening.
As the hospital closes its doors and its staff and residents transition to the new village, the vision for a community-based, compassionate care model continues.
Calvary Hospital chair, Fergus More said “Calvary Hospital has been a cornerstone of compassionate aged care in Invercargill, and while we are sad to close this chapter, we are proud to see the values of respect, dignity, and care continue through Hawthorndale. This transition ensures that our residents and staff are supported by the same legacy of compassion, while embracing a modern, innovative approach to aged care with a particular focus of those living with dementia.”
Manager Margaret Brown, whose idea it was for the facility back in 2010, said while Hawthorndale was modelled on one in Amsterdam, it had its own "Southland touch."
Rotorua had the first of its kind in New Zealand, but Hawthorndale was on a much bigger scale, with 10 retirement willas, 13 care houses with 86 beds including a mix of residential, dementia and hospital level care, and a village centre in a garden setting that incorporates a café, library, theatre, chapel and mens shed.
"We used a lot of their experience and how they they went about it," she said.
The village was made possible through the collaboration of local businesses and organisations, each contributing their expertise and resources.
Frank said a huge thank you to our project manager, Nick Hamlin, and to the architects, local construction teams including South Roads, ABL, Hendersons, and Bennett Homes.
“Their hard work and commitment have been essential in keeping this project on time and within budget. Without them, this achievement would not have been possible.”
Hawthorndale Care Village was more than just a place to live; it was a community in itself. It represented a model of care that ensured residents could live as normal a life as possible, as close as possible to how they enjoyed their lives before their need for care, while being supported by a team of dedicated aged care professionals.
The village offered a safe, engaging environment where residents would experience a high standard of care, with a focus on fostering independence, social connections, and a sense of belonging.
Residents would live as normal a life as possible, as close as possible to how they enjoyed their lives before their need for care.
The design of the village and the delivery of care removed the institutional/hospital feel and was replaced with small groups living in houses where the rhythm of everyday living was tailored to each individual resident.
The village will enable residents to be engaged in everyday activities inside and outside, in the safety and security of the facility.
Trustee Paddy O'Brien said the project was exactly the type of example of what can happen with a "can do" attitude, "and this is the future for aged care and dementia in New Zealand."