Raglan Rest Home and Hospital’s new owner Libi Madappillil is passionate about providing the best in elder care.
Originally from Kerala, India, Libi was brought up in a culture that values intergenerational living.
“We look after our elderly people at home in India. I looked after my Nana and great Nana so it’s a natural thing to do,” she says.
While Libi and her husband worked, their son Samuel was cared for by his grandparents and now, at 14, he looks out for them.
An experienced registered nurse, Libi has worked in elder care for a number of years. Her first job in New Zealand when she arrived 20 years ago to do a Bachelor of Nursing was as a healthcare assistant in a rest home.
She has since worked in a variety of departments at Waikato Hospital, including urgent medical care.
When Libi came on board at the rest home in April it was very obvious to her that she had a good team to work with.
She quickly appointed former administrator Teresa Rudolph as facilities manager. “Teresa and I work well together. She is great at managing the facility, which means I can focus on taking care of the clinical side of things, which is my expertise,” Libi says.
Having worked at the rest home for the past 10 years in many different roles, there’s not a lot Teresa doesn’t know, and Libi values that knowledge.
“It’s been a very easy transition with Libi; she listens to us and takes on our ideas,” Teresa says.
Libi says it makes sense to work as a team. “The staff here knows the community so well and they know the rest home, which is actually great. Like our maintenance manager Alan; he’s expert in his area, so why wouldn’t I take his advice?”
Raglan Rest Home and Hospital is not Libi’s first business caring for people in their golden years. She owns Daybreak Senior Day Care, a day programme based in Rotorua, designed to provide holistic care and support for longer independent living.
Raglan Rest Home used to provide senior day care and Libi has set the wheels in motion to get it up-and-running again.
“I feel for our elderly people in the community who are isolated and it hurts my heart to see them on their own.”
The daycare is government funded, and Libi says it’s a great support for people who are caring for their elderly parents, as well as for elders living on their own.
“We run the daycare programme from 10am to 3pm and we provide nutrition, exercise and cognitive support, as well as entertainment,” she says.
When Raglan Rest Home and Hospital came on the market, Libi was keen to use her knowledge of, and passion for, elder care to make a positive impact for the residents.
“I knew the community day care programme in Rotorua was a success and didn’t need as much input from me, so I told my husband I want to expand my knowledge and give back to the community here.”
Libi says she has been warmly welcomed by the Raglan community and she’s grateful for the support of the volunteers.
“We couldn’t survive without our volunteers; they absolutely make a difference. Even sitting with a resident and chatting with them for five minutes makes such a positive impact.”
To find out about Raglan Rest Home and Hospital’s daycare programme contact office@raglanhospital.com.
by Janine Jackson
