As part of her occupational therapy assessment for returning home, Betty made her breakfast in the mini-kitchen, which includes what you find in a kitchen a home, including a jug, microwave, sink, bench top and cupboards.
"I think that's a wonderful idea because you can do it yourself and it was so easy."
Hāwera Hospital clinical manager Cathy Thomson says the occupational therapists (OTs) were "thrilled to have such a facility on the ward for carrying out functional assessments".
"This helps to speed up the process of assessing OT and R [rehabilitation] patients. If they can do this practice regularly, which they're doing, it means that expedites their discharge home."
The new mini-kitchen is also able to be used by families of palliative patients who stay over at the hospital.
The Isobel Bremer Medical Services Trust honours the wishes of Isobel Bremer - who died in November 1991 – to provide support to medical services in South Taranaki.
Taranaki Health Foundation general manager Bry Kopu-Scott says the donation from the trust is greatly appreciated.
"We are so grateful for the donations made. This is a practical and clinically important new space for rehabilitation practice and confidence building for South Taranaki patients and families."
The Taranaki Health Foundation is the first point of call for people wishing to contribute to health in Taranaki. Fundraising year round, the foundation has a range of projects that focus on patient comfort, wellbeing and support.
For more information, check out Taranaki Health Foundation online www.taranakihealthfoundation.org.nz.