Members of the Bupa Te Puke community, plus past and present residents, staff and whānau, came together last week for a special blessing at Bupa Te Puke Retirement Village and Care Home.

The event marked the closure of the original rest home, known locally as the Old Motel, and celebrated a milestone in the $17 million refurbishment of the site.

“The Old Motel, once the place to go in Te Puke, got a second lease of life as a rest home; however, it was never designed for that purpose,” said Bupa Te Puke Retirement Village and Care Home general manager Tracey Alderton.

It was time

“The rest home has long been a cornerstone of our community, and it was a really tough decision to close it earlier this year, but everyone agreed that it was time for a new, modern care home. We’re excited about the future.

“But it was still people’s home and so it was really important to me and the team to have the blessing today and to acknowledge this.”

The blessing provided an opportunity to honour and thank all those who lived and worked within its walls. Attendees gathered to reflect on its legacy, share memories and acknowledge the people who shaped the culture of the home.

“It was a powerful moment and a few tears were shed,” said Alderton.

Guided tours

After the blessing, guests were taken on guided tours of the newly-refurbished areas, offering a first look at the transformation now underway.

“We have been living and working on a building site for nine months now and our people and residents have been amazing in how we’ve navigated it,” said Alderton.

“And now that the new swing rooms in the care home have started to be finished and residents move in, everyone can see the vision coming to life and they are really excited about how we’re setting Te Puke up for the future.”

The project

The blessing marks a milestone in the redevelopment announced by Bupa this year.

The project includes a full rebuild of the hospital-level care facility, including 36 new premium care rooms designed as flexible “swing rooms” that can be used for either rest-home or hospital-level care. The construction of 11 new villas on the former motel site and an upgraded village common area are designed to enhance community connection and resident wellbeing.

Also in attendance was Bupa New Zealand’s managing director Pedro Sanchez. ​

High standard

“For us, investment in Bupa Te Puke strengthens Bupa’s presence in the community and provides its residents with a modern and comfortable home that matches the high standard of care delivered by Bupa’s people,” he said.

“It is a big project and this level of change definitely has its challenges, but when I think about the Te Puke team and its residents, and how they have navigated this year, the word that comes to mind is manaakitanga – kindness, generosity, support and respect. It’s what makes this such a special home for our residents and a wonderful place for our people to work.”