LARA LODGE CARE HOME
Life Lived Well
Life at Lara Lodge Care Home isnt about retiring from life - its more about moving into a Home that you can really call your own, getting the support, assistance and care that you are looking for.
The location of Lara is less than a ten minute drive into the town centre, tucked away in an attractive cul-de-sac with great neighbours that we have a good repoire with.
On the acre of grounds we have a variety of established rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas. The surrounding gardens are also home to a variety of colourful flowering plants, shrubs and trees that showcase the seasons.
We embrace the garden to table ethos, planting our own vegetable, herb & fruit gardens to ensure our meals have spray free goodies included in our chefs creative menus.
Whether you or your loved one is looking for a short stay or a new home, we welcome you to come for a visit, meet the staff and those that live here. Take all the time you need to look around, enjoy a cuppa and be free to ask all the questions you need to.
LIFE AT LARA
Live Lived Well
Lara Lodge Care Home offers the best of residential care in a stand alone Home in Rotorua.
While offering a warm, secure, clean and comfortable environment, we aim to provide options that are not one-size-fits-all.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
AND FROM THE HEART OF LARA LODGE WE WELCOME YOU HOME
Lara Lodge offers you the comfort, style, atmosphere and values that you would hope to find in a loving, caring and friendly home. Excellence of care is paramount to the team that work together to ensure that your needs are well taken care of 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Staff are passionate about the areas that they serve in, whether cleaning, cooking, gardening, activities, admin, maintenance, care-giving or nursing. Each person loves what they do and they encourage one another to go the extra mile in our service here.
Certification by the Ministry of Health NZ ensures we are able to provide the level of residential care needed.
WHO COMES HERE
Who comes here and Why
There are a variety of reasons a person would choose to come to Lara Lodge Care Home and this may be because an illness or disabiliity has bought limitations. Perhaps it is the later years of life that has seen challenges that require a modifying of decisions and actions. Loneliness and social isoloation may have precipated such a move.
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Lara Lodge is a family owned and operated Care Home that has been available as such for more than 4 decades. From the early days when 6 bedrooms were offered for full time permanent care through the time of massive redecelopment to become a boutique style residence, more along the lines of a private family style home B&B Hotel.
The current owners Walter and Teresa purchased Lara Lodge in early 2017 with a desire to embrace and build into that original vision.
A rather remarkable dedicated team of staff are well equipped to provide excellent care. They listen to the needs of each resident in order to understand how the best possible support and assistance that is specific and appropriate to each undividual can be given.
The Home itself has generous sized individual bedrooms most with a semi en-suite bathroom. There are 2 large separate lounges, a sun and fun filled activites room, large dining room along with the kitchen. An extensive rear north facing deck faces the rear private garden. The clinical office area houses the nurse station along with administration.
Nurses and 24/7 care staff along with the kitchen, cleaning, gardening and maintenance team are here to ensure that living life well is for real.
SOME OF WHAT WE DO
Living and Thriving
To live and thrive in a healthy, comfortable, clean environment means more than just a building - we need a home. Its the things that take place inside and out that contribute to health and well-being. That might be something as simple as fresh flowers on the tables each week or time spent over a cuppa together. With an emphasis on joyful activities, good food, great care, less waste with the aim to live, do and bring life.
MEET THE TEAM
Everyday People doing the Extraordinary
It’s comforting to know that you’re not alone when you need assistance. The dedicated staff at Lara Lodge Care Home are on call 24/7 in order to serve our residents’ needs. Whether it’s an unusual medication schedule or there’s a health emergency in the middle of the night, our well trained staff are able to handle things well.
We have a Team & Family approach to what we do and a genuine "work in with each other ethos" along with the guiding statement "would we do this for our own mother or father" to ensure that we get things as right as we possibly can.
CARERS - Personal Health Care Assistants
A M A Z I N G
Wendy, Denise, Anju, Cheryl, Angela, Mandy,
Debbie, Lorraine, Jenny, Jasmin, Naina, Tiva, Sujata, Lisa
Experienced, educated, professional, caring, enthusiastic, believably good only begins to describe this outstanding group of people.
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NURSES
Mellisa, Loren, Gracie, Ana and Eilish
Mellisa has worked at Lara since the end of 2016, she came with decades of experience in aged care. She has a big heart and a beautiful voice and lucky for us we often get to enjoy her singing and her hugs! Mellisa is a passionate EN and an accomplished administrator, always looking for ways to upskill and encouraging others to do the same through our ongoing training program. Mellisa is a doting wife, mum and grandmother and is known as the glue to her whanau (dogs included!).
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Loren joined the team in 2022. A long time RN with many years experience in aged care there is no doubt we are privileged to have her expertise. Loren is a conscientious woman with a retro approach to her style which makes her fun to work with. Her gentle approach to residents makes her an ideal Lead RN to our seniors. Loren is a caring mum and grandmother that is very involved in her families lives.
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​​Grace works part time with us as she is a full time Plunket Nurse. In her own words she loves both ends of the age spectrum, caring for babies and caring for seniors. A few years ago, Grace worked with us during her 3rd year as a Student Nurse. She has worked in a hospital setting and in general practice. Grace adores her family as they do her - we all do.
Ana and Eilish were students together at Toi Ohomai and graduated in 2024. We count it a privilege to have welcomed them to the team early 2025. Watch this space!
THE KITCHEN STAFF
Chef Philip
Heads up the menu and meal planning, preparing 3 meals each day and serving breakfast and lunch. His 20 years experience in aged care serves everyone very well. Phil developed a love for cooking from both his grandmother and mother and often bakes things that are
from their recipe books, much to everyone's delight.
Bronwyn
Who has worked in catering for decades, has run her own catering company, and was chef at a Children's Health Camp for many years. Bronwyn loves cooking and is always looking at new ways of doing things.
Dayton
is the youngest member of the team and is a chef in training and we are delighted to work together and be a part of his learning journey.
Kitchen support, hydration, cooks, kitchen hands:
Lisa, Jot, Sara, Kelly, Walter & Teresa
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Our menu is produced to ensure that new menus are alongside of the tried-and-true menus that are the requested favourites. Each person in the kitchen has their own strength that is incorporated into who we are and what we do.
Focusing on hydration means that an adequate fluid intake is kept up.
The team are supported by Walter and Teresa who have a passion for good nutrition believing that begins in the garden. Specifically, the condition of the soil. Both have come from families of avid gardeners and cooks which has contributed to their mutual ethos. Walters early years of training saw him equipped to work in established hotel restaurants in Europe and South Africa before he arrived in NZ to work in the THC, Waitangi.
As a team we share our years of cooking experience to hone the joint passion and creativity for the preparation and delivery of food.
We count it an honour to cook for and serve our residents.
HOUSEKEEPING
Tetibe & Lisa
With a eye for detail and a top to bottom approach to cleaning and health and safety, these women take a holistic approach to all aspects of home grooming and deep cleaning. They know that what they do makes a difference in the day to day lives of each resident and thats the approach they take to the big and little things. Infection control is a priority with all our staff including the housekeepers.
Activities
Angela & Tiva with support from staff
Brain games and exercises start the day off after morning tea which is followed up whatever the activities calendar is promoting.
Current affairs, story telling, crafts, games, outings, Happy Hour, movie times. Art and music along with a lot of laughter ensure that the days are anything but boring.
We take a 'lets keep moving approach' to the days acitivities and provide plenty of stimulation to mind and body assisting strength & balance in both areas.
Music and Art feature in the weeks program as do the traditional games like Housie, Indoor Bowls, throwing the horse-shoe and boards games.
OWNER OPERATOR
Walter and Teresa Scheer
They say opposites attract and this couple agree. Decades together has taught them a few things about getting on with & in life. They say its their differences that bring about a synergy that aids them to live out their ethos and passion to serve with excellence. They uphold the values of servant leadership and believe in bottom up not top down.
