Maryville Courts Retirement Village – Pioneering the retirement village industry

Retirement villages are an increasingly popular option around the world but in New Zealand, the concept has a long and proud tradition. Maryville Courts Retirement Village is firmly established as one of the pioneers of the industry, innovating concepts and ideals that have been proven by the test of time. The retirement village was first established in 1983 and is registered under the Charitable Trust Act of 1957. The organization is governed by the Maryville Courts Trust Board who are also the owners of the land, holding it under a Deed of Trust from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch. Importantly, Maryville Courts is fully interdenominational and open to everyone.

Back when Maryville was first established, the notion of retirement villages was “quite a novel thing” according to Suzanne Reynen, the village’s Manager. However, the progressive vision of Father Beban quickly took form with the assistance of several practical supporters. The village progressively developed as more and more properties in the vicinity became available to allow development. At the project’s end, there was a 5-acre area which held 65 independent villas in the middle of the central city community. The venture has been successful thus far, so much so in fact that some of the biggest players in the industry looked at the model of the village as a platform point and an inspiration. Maryville Courts was, without a doubt, at the forefront of the retirement industry in Christchurch.

Independent living as a core value

Maryville Courts focuses on independent living as most of its residents are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves on a daily basis. With that said, Fran Kent fills the role of the on-site Enrolled Nurse while Jan Smith is the Senior Caregiver who offers her services during the weekends and public holidays. Furthermore, Suzanne herself has an extensive background in nursing and is able to assist whenever required. Aside from that, she manages the day-to-day needs of the village and also the marketing, sales, the refurbishment of the villas, and in solving any issues that arise in a busy community.

Suzanne meets with the residents on a monthly basis in order to determine the social activities of the upcoming month. In an important distinction to similar villages, the residents of Maryville Courts are very much involved in this process as it is a collaborative effort. Though there are some standard activities such as Tai Chi and bridge, residents are free to take part or not in any of the planned events and outings. Furthermore, many offer to take responsibility for running activities or faculties in the village such as the library, exercise class or the monthly BBQ’s. This is a place where residents take ownership of what activities are on offer.

Forming personal relationships through daily interactions

The staff and residents of Maryville Courts all know each other very well because the village is relatively small and everyone working there is very passionate about their work. According to Suzanne, there’s a very close association with management and a great team spirit.

““Everyone helps each other. Our roles can be slightly blurred on occasion if there is a need for assistance. It’s really a supportive and happy place to be”, suggests Suzanne.

The village prides itself on maintaining and promoting the independence of its residents. Staff are most aware of the need to not intrude on people’s lives but to know them well enough to recognize if there is a change in their needs in order to offer timely support and suggestion where it may be indicated. Whilst there is no care facility on site, residents can receive practical assistance if required from external agencies and also have the peace of mind with a St John’s medical alarm system installed in each villa. A dedicated answering service can also be utilized to pass any afterhours concerns directly to management. A medical Centre and pharmacy are within a short walking distance to the village making yet another aspect of life easier for the residents.

Persevering through tough times

The residents of Christchurch in general have been through some very tough times in recent years. The earthquakes had a major impact not only on the economy and stability of the region but also upon the mental health of the population. The residents of Maryville Courts were no different as they were also deeply affected. The stress for residents, their families, and the staff was significant, but as a supportive community, they managed to get through it and to become ultimately stronger. In regard to the village’s infrastructure, Maryville Courts was able to quickly fit in emergency repairs and have their residents comfortably return to the affected areas without issue in a short amount of time.

Whilst village repairs were undertaken, the opportunity was used to further modernize and enhance the villas and their surroundings. Double-glazing has been introduced village-wide and high-speed fiber Internet has been provided to the site. And though there are currently no expansion plans, future development might be considered by the Trust Board should the right opportunity arise.

Ensuring sustainability for the future

For now, the focus is on providing the same high standard of personalization and quality of service that Maryville Courts has become known for.

“The attraction for people moving here,” says Suzanne “is that their independence and individuality is promoted. They live in a vibrant and secure community where the hard work is done for them and is affordable enough to allow the pursuit of their dreams whether it be relaxing or something more active.”

Maryville Courts has grown into a fantastic community over the years, it’s track record and competitive edge gives current and future residents certainty for the village’s long-term sustainability.