A little support goes a long way

Her husband now lives in the Care Centre adjacent, making it easy for her to visit him each day.

“I needed a place where I could be close enough to him,” says Kitty. “Because he’s in the same building it’s even better, so I don’t have to go out in the rain to visit him.”

Originally from South Africa, Kitty worked as a teacher before moving to New Zealand 27 years ago, where she later worked in caregiving and nursing. Downsizing from a four-bedroom house to a two-bedroom apartment was a big step, but one she has embraced. “My biggest problem was how will I get rid of all my husband’s stuff,” she laughs. “My family said to me, choose what you’re going to need.”

Today, Kitty has settled comfortably into her new home, even turning the second bedroom into a space where she can do her exercises.

Another unexpected bonus has been the Living Well package that comes with her apartment, including a daily breakfast of cereals, toast, fruit and coffee.

“It’s not that I can’t make my own breakfast, but it’s the company of the other residents that I really enjoy,” she says. “We all sit around the table and we chat, and I learn a lot from them too.”

For Kitty, having her husband close by and starting each day with friends over breakfast has helped make Copper Crest feel like home.

“I know someone who is so impressed with my apartment that he is now thinking about moving into one here as well.”