Bupa's Northhaven Care Home residents can now take a safe dip in the ocean thanks to a modified ocean access chair.
The chair, equipped with harnesses, inflatable components, and large plastic wheels, has been provided by the Halberg Foundation and has brought joy and newfound vitality to vulnerable older people.
It was initially intended for a surf club member's daughter, and thanks to the efforts of the Bupa care home staff and the local Red Beach Surf Club, it has found new life at Northhaven Care Home.
The idea to introduce the chair was sparked by Bupa's Activities Coordinator, Jayne Weir, who believed that residents with physical disabilities or cognitive impairment should be able to enjoy the beach despite the challenges they face.
"Many of our residents talk about how much they miss going into the sea. So, I wanted to find a way for them to recapture this experience and all the joy that comes with a dip in the ocean in summer," said Weir.
"I made numerous calls and connected with the Red Beach Surf Club, who not only had a chair but were incredibly supportive of our mission to increase access for vulnerable people and create meaningful experiences for our residents."
Along with training from Red Beach's Surf Club experts, the chair enables care home staff to safely transport residents into the water, allowing them to feel the sand and water between their toes and venture out as far as the waves for the more adventurous among them.
The initiative has had an extraordinary impact on the care home's residents as they reminisce about their time at the beach with their children and grandchildren.
Red Beach Committee Member Andrew Short, who works for assisted technology company Permobil NZ, sponsors the surf club and is pleased that the club can support increased beach access to the local community.
He believes there will be increasing demand for items like the floating beach wheelchair, as we have an ageing population and a country that loves the beach.
