New owners make the residents feel like family

Rest home resident Jill Haddow with Eunice Tsai and Boon Choo at Rose Garden Rest Home. Photo / Supplied

You might think a background in wine consultancy and engineering is an unusual pathway to running a rest home - but Auckland couple Boon Choo and Eunice Tsai felt compelled to move into the aged care sector after seeing first-hand how much a positive experience matters.

The pair have taken over Morningview Rest Home on Morningside Rd and renamed the Whangarei centre Rose Garden Rest Home.

They said it was Eunice's experiences of her mother's recent care in a rest home in Auckland that opened their eyes to the sector.

Originally from Singapore, the couple said it might be a long way from what they had been working on, but they were devoted to their Whangarei residents.

"We have been in New Zealand for a while now," Eunice said.

"We have been involved in a number of different businesses, but during the time my mother was receiving excellent care, we realised that this is a very important and satisfying opportunity to provide something special for elderly people."

Boon Choo said it was vital to offer a Kiwi lifestyle with a friendly atmosphere and home-cooked meals.

"Our idea for a rest home is that it should be as much like home as possible," he said.

The small dementia unit has closed temporarily because the pair wanted to concentrate efforts on residents who needed rest home level care.

Since the new ownership, residents had noted the care.

Zena Love said: "It feels so homely here. All the staff treat me like a family member. I am really happy at Rose Garden Rest Home and I can see a lot of great improvements in the management in the last few months."

The home caters for 34 residents and has an open day on Sunday, December 6, from 10am to 12pm.