Why families are choosing The Helier for personalised aged care 

If you’re looking for aged care that feels highly personal — where neighbours are familiar faces, routines are respected, and care is shaped around the individual — you might want to add The Helier, located in the heart of St Heliers on Waimarie Street, to your list of places to visit.

With just 32 Care Residences, The Helier is a close-knit community for those requiring rest home, hospital-level or respite care. Each residence is generously sized and well-appointed, and care is tailored to individual needs and delivered by an experienced clinical care team.

We spoke with Debbie Little, Sales Manager at The Helier, to learn more about life here and what families can expect.

A place to call home

Step inside The Helier and you’ll immediately notice how inviting it feels. The foyer is light and welcoming, with the Care Residences off to the left of the main reception and set across just two levels.

“Our Aged Care Living area is set in a boutique environment overlooking Glover Park, with only 32 residences in total,” says Debbie, who is based on-site and dedicated to helping families understand more about The Helier.

“This is a place where neighbours and staff are all familiar faces, and the environment is warm and welcoming. It’s home.”

There are two main types of Care Residences available: one-bedroom suites with a separate living area, and studio layouts. Each residence includes an ensuite and a kitchenette with a mini fridge, and many have a private balcony or patio.

For some residents, a studio offers a cosy, low-maintenance space where everything is conveniently within reach. Others prefer the added separation and flexibility of a one-bedroom suite, particularly if they enjoy entertaining visitors and appreciate distinct living and sleeping spaces.

Residents are encouraged to bring personal items and furnishings to make the space their own. They can decorate as they please, including putting photos and artwork on the walls.

Each residence has also been designed to support changing care needs over time. Features such as hospital-capable beds and discreet hoist systems are built in from the outset, so additional support can be introduced smoothly, without residents needing to change rooms.

Life at The Helier is supported by a range of thoughtfully designed shared spaces and amenities. Residents have access to a private dining room, spacious communal lounges and a private courtyard, along with a swimming pool and spa, cinema, beauty and hair salons, massage and wellness services,and a dedicated physical therapy room (all with assisted use as needed).

Care that feels personal

Care at The Helier is built around Oceania’s Personalised Care Plans model, where care is highly tailored to meet individual needs.

Each resident has a personalised care plan shaped around their physical, emotional and social wellbeing. These plans are not static — they’re reviewed and adjusted regularly as needs change, sometimes on a daily basis.

Importantly, residents are informed and included in all decisions. Changes are made alongside each resident, not on their behalf.

“Residents are part of their care journey so they never feel like something is happening to them,” says Debbie.

“Our staff take great care to advise — with respect — when a resident might benefit from changing the way they do things.”

Nursing at the forefront

The Helier follows Oceania’s innovative Nurse Practitioner approach, where residents have the opportunity to receive primary care from an experienced Nurse Practitioner.

A Nurse Practitioner is an advanced clinical nurse that works within a comparable scope of practice to a GP. They are able to assess, diagnose and treat patients, including prescribing and managing medications and ordering and interpreting tests.

“It’s very seamless,” she adds. “You don’t have to rely on practices being open or GPs visiting. Our Nurse Practitioners observe residents on a weekly basis and can deal with quite acute situations. It’s a very good, robust system that we’re proud of at The Helier.”

Nurse Practitioners are supported by experienced registered nurses and care associates. Residents can also choose to expand their support team to include physiotherapists, podiatrists and other allied health providers.

Understanding the cost of The Helier

At The Helier, pricing is based on the Care Residence you choose, the daily care fee and any additional services you choose to add.

Initial purchase (ORA)

Care Residences at The Helier are secured through an Occupation Right Agreement (ORA).

This is an upfront payment for the residence itself, with prices starting from $530,000.

Daily care fee

The daily care fee covers the resident's everyday needs including meals, personal care, clinical support, and day to day assistance.

Hospital level care

If a resident is assessed as needing hospital-level care, eligible residents may receive a top up subsidy from Health New Zealand to cover the difference between the standard daily rate and the higher level of care required. This subsidy is not means tested and will be paid directly to The Helier.

Additional services

You can also add additional services to support your loved one. This might include services such as physiotherapy, podiatry, and hydrotherapy, alongside hairdressing, beauty treatments and massage services. You can add or remove services at any time.

How The Helier compares at a glance

Choosing aged care often comes down to understanding how different models work in practice. The table below outlines some common features across care homes, alongside how these are approached at The Helier.

*Based on common features and care models across aged care providers. Individual services and approaches may vary.

Learn more about life at The Helier

If you would like to learn more about life at The Helier, and see for yourself what makes this place special, Debbie would love to hear from you. She meets with families at all phases of the decision making process, from those who are at the beginning of exploring their options to those who may be looking for imminent care.

“I’m here to show you around and answer any questions you may have, in a no-pressure appointment. My job is to provide information and help you feel more informed — all questions are welcomed,” says Debbie.

Please note that psychogeriatric and dementia care are not offered at The Helier.