Couple find care and comfort close by in community
Every morning, Peter Ayling leaves his apartment and makes his way through the corridor, past the café and up the elevator to greet his wife Cecile who lives in the Care Centre.
“He comes over just to give me a kiss good morning, it’s very sweet,” Cecile shares. The couple, who met late in life and have been married for seven years, can see each other every day because their retirement village has both care and independent living options in one community.
The decision to move into the Arvida Aria Bay community in Browns Bay was prompted by Cecile's declining mobility. “It was the hospital that said I could no longer cope with Cecile’s immobility,” Peter recalls.
Cecile was the first to move into Aria Bay, settling in the Care Centre where the 93-year-old’s needs could be best met. Peter, wanting to remain close, put his name down for an independent apartment in the same village. It took a few months for Sales Manager Sharon Rabone to find an available apartment for him.
While Cecile was born in Whanganui and served as a nun for many years, Peter was originally from the UK and was a security printer – they both bonded over faith and humour and still remain active in their church community.
Now Cecile looks forward to her weekly rummikub games on Fridays, and together both Peter and Cecile regularly visit the village café. Reading is another passion Cecile enjoys, supported by the peace and quiet of the village lounge areas. Most importantly for Peter, “It gave me peace of mind in knowing there were nurses and Wellness Partners available for Cecile,” allowing him to relax knowing her care and wellbeing are in good hands.
In the beginning, Peter would cook meals in his apartment and wheel Cecile over for dinner, but now they both enjoy delicious meals prepared by the village Kitchen team.
The couple wished they’d made the decision to move to Aria Bay sooner, as Cecile says, “when you’re comfortable where you are you tend to stay there and then you find that you should’ve moved earlier.” For Peter, being able to visit Cecile whenever he wants, while living independently himself, has brought peace of mind and has strengthened the couple’s bond.