Concept from Europe
A retirement complex where residents could grow old with dignity, live as independently as they liked and still have access to any support services needed, prompted Dr Brent Savage and his wife, Mrs Joy Couper-Sav-age, to establish Mansfield Gardens.
In such a place, residents would be secure in the knowledge that all their future needs would be met and they would never have to leave should they become ill. The concept of retirement care comes from Europe. The idea to develop the complex first occurred to the couple while they were overseas. Dr Savage had cared for many older people in his general practice. He thought that people living in institutions aged more quickly than if they were being cared for away from the stark, clinical atmosphere of a hospital.
The Mansfield Avenue property in Merivale, close to all amenities, was the ideal place, and the Savages were excited when they found it. The next step was to find a builder prepared to develop the properlty. Mervyn Higgs Constructions was the developer,
and the architects were Trengrove Blunt. They preserved the Elizabethan style of the original homestead and designed the nine one or two-bedroom apartments and four three-bedroom town houses.
Dr Savage is the resident medical practitioner. Mrs Couper-Savage oversees the complex as matron. She has been the matron of a large retirement complex run by the Presbyterian Social Service and is a registered nurse.
Linking the apartments and town houses is the homestead where Dr Savage and his family live. There is also a lounge where the residents can meet and the dining room where they are welcome to come for a shared Sunday dinner and other meals. The doctor can care for chronic conditions such as ulcers in the treatment room, and he also has a small surgery.
The doctor calls on the residents every day, as does the housekeeper, Mrs Pam Denton. Each resident has a separate legal title to their property which is stronger than the licence to occupy.
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Bibliographic details
Press, 1 June 1989, Page 43
Word Count
336Concept from Europe Press, 1 June 1989, Page 43
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