If you value your independence, and want to keep it for as long as possible, living at Oakwoods in the Nelson suburb of Richmond could be the solution you’re looking for. This respected Richmond retirement community helps residents live life by their own rules, assisted by a support layer that makes it easier to stay safe and well.

Oakwoods offers a full range of accommodation styles, including fully-independent living in villas, assisted living in serviced apartments and studios, and 24/7 care in spacious rest home rooms. This breadth of options means it’s possible to adjust your level of support without changing your address.

Daily life at Oakwoods makes the most of Nelson’s plentiful sunshine and the community’s 12 acres of flower beds, mature trees and lawns. Residents are encouraged to plant their own gardens and harvest the shared fruit trees. Within the community there’s a library, hair and beauty salon, Petanque court, fitness centre, indoor heated swimming pool and super-size spa pool.

There’s also a small café/bar that’s used for serving morning tea, a light bright dining room and a sunny community centre with baby grand piano, gas fire and large TV with Sky. In addition, there’s a games room with full-size snooker table and dart board, as well as several other lounges that can be used by the residents for private social gatherings, movies, weekly church services and other events. The Oakwoods community vans provide outings and shopping trips.

Oakwoods’ close proximity to shops, services and community entertainment options makes everyday life easy and enjoyable. Right next door is Club Waimea, which includes a bowling green, restaurant and weekly programme of meetings, classes and events. The Richmond shopping centre and Richmond Mall are within walking distance. Also close by are the Richmond A & P showground, racecourse, Greenacres Golf Course, croquet club, Richmond Bowling Club and Richmond Bridge Club.

For health services, Oakwoods is handy to the Lower Queen Street Health Complex, which includes a café, Med Lab, Fry’s Pharmacy, Matthews Eye Care, Triton Hearing Clinic, Tasman Medical Centre, South Rehab Health Care (physio with Gym) and Tasman Dental Centre. This complex also includes rooms for visiting specialists, including an eye specialist, ear noise specialist, sleep well clinic, vascular surgeon, skin institute, endocrinologist, general laparospic and endoscopic surgeon.

Here’s a quick summary of how you can live at Oakwoods:

Independent villa: One, two and three-bedroom villas for independent living are positioned to provide privacy, catch the sun and make the most of garden views. These homes have elegant high ceilings and large single garages (some with internal access).

Serviced apartment: One-bedroom serviced apartments give you a balance of independent living and tailored assistance. Upstairs apartments have views. If your needs change in the future, assistance can be adjusted right up to rest home-level care.

Studio: Designed for assisted living, Oakwoods’ studios are all on the ground floor with their own patio and offer lovely outlooks –Studio floorplans include a bed area, living area and kitchenette.

Care room: If you need full-time care, Oakwoods care rooms are spacious and comfortable. Daily assistance is based on Arvida’s household model of care, which looks after residents in smaller groups that soon feel like family.

Respite room: Oakwoods has a room with kitchenette for respite care. It has a sunny aspect and opens onto a private courtyard. Respite guests are welcome to join in with community activities Read less