Caring, Enabling, Supporting
Enliven services support older people and those living with disabilities to maximise independence and enjoy fulfilling lives. The principles of caring, enabling and supporting underpin all Enliven services. We believe it is important to recognise emotional, cultural and social needs, as well as meeting practical day-to-day care requirements.
Our philosophy recognises that people need to maintain control over their lives. We aim to build on people’s strengths in a way that preserves dignity and promotes overall wellbeing.
Enliven New Zealand encompasses seven regional Enliven organisations nationwide, with each region offering services that respond to local needs.
Enliven’s national survey launches on Wednesday 1 October and is open to people of all ages. It’s an opportunity to share ideas on how we can foster a more inclusive, respectful society for older people. Read more below.
Take the survey and show your support this International Day for Older Persons.
Survey Launch: NZ Attitudes on our Elders
International Day for Older Persons on Wednesday, 1 October 2025
To mark International Day for Older Persons, Enliven is launching a nationwide online survey asking Kiwi to share their views on ageing and how society can better respect and support older New Zealanders.
Wisdom, resilience, and insight are earned through years of living, learning, and adapting. This International Day for Older Persons, celebrated on Wednesday, 1 October 2025, Enliven, a health and disability service run by Presbyterian Support, is inviting New Zealanders to pause and reflect on how we can better support and value older people in our communities, even in small yet meaningful ways.
Enliven is a recognised industry leader in New Zealand’s for-purpose, not-for-profit sector, supporting more than 14,200 older people nationwide through a wide range of aged care and community-based services. Support is provided by more than 3000 Enliven staff and about 365 volunteers.
“Older New Zealanders carry an irreplaceable wealth of knowledge,” says Enliven national spokesperson Dr Prudence Stone. “They’ve raised families, built communities, adapted to huge social and technological changes, and they continue to contribute in countless ways.”
“Respecting their preferences, supporting independence, and focusing on wellness rather than illness isn’t just good care, it’s good for society,” she says.
Enliven provides support to older people and those living with disabilities across Aotearoa New Zealand, helping them maintain independence and live fulfilling lives. Services include in-home practical support, engaging day programmes, short-term respite and health recovery services, as well as residential aged care and retirement village communities– all tailored to meet the specific needs of local communities.
Aotearoa New Zealand’s population is ageing at a steady pace, driven by declining fertility rates and increased life expectancy. According to Stats NZ, by 2040 it is projected that one in four New Zealanders will be over the age of 65.
“The contribution of older New Zealanders is often undervalued, despite their lifelong efforts. This is despite older people contributing to society and the economy as employees, business owners, volunteers, and carers,” says Dr Stone.
“Others have spent their lives contributing to society and we have much to learn and admire from them. However, we are exposed to negative messages about older people, so our brains are wired to form judgements about people based on their age.”
“Although New Zealand fares better than many countries, negative stereotypes – like seeing older people as frail or dependent, still persist, and can negatively affect health outcomes, including causing older people to feel isolated and lonely.“
“Moving to a model of wellness rather than illness and treating people with respect and dignity is hugely beneficial for society overall,” she says.
Enliven’s national survey launches on Wednesday 1 October and is open to people of all ages. It’s an opportunity to share ideas on how we can foster a more inclusive, respectful society for older people.
Four meaningful ways we can show how we appreciate older people as we celebrate International Day for Older Persons:
Mentorship | Older people are excellent mentors for others. Our older people have so much to teach us. Let’s find ways of connecting with them so that this can happen.
Visits | Loneliness is a growing issue, and connection makes a big difference. A simple phone call or visit can turn someone’s whole day around.
Storytelling | Take time to hear older people’s stories. Encourage them to record them so future generations can have a valuable insight into what it “used to be like” back in the day.
Connection | Find ways of connecting people of all generations with each other. This fosters mutual learning, joy and laughter between young and old.
Change of plan? Dementia Mate Wareware HomeShare pilot puts people at the centre of their day in South Island
Sometimes things don’t always go according to plan at some of the new Te Waipounamu (South Island) Dementia Mate Wareware HomeShare programmes – but that’s exactly how they like it.
Alzheimers Marlborough and Otago are facilitating four of the 17 HomeShare programmes around Te Waipounamu (South Island).
The programmes are designed for people with mild to moderate dementia mate wareware and benefits include socialisation, engagement, education, raising awareness and reducing stigma and getting the community involved.
A typical programme has up to five people attending and is ideally held in somebody’s home, or a homely community space. A typical day might look like a morning tea, activity, outing, lunch and another activity.
Percy has been attending one of the Alzheimers Marlborough HomeShare programmes once a week for about a year.
He says having such a small group means they can do things like go for a coffee or an ice-cream – depending on how they’re feeling on the day.“We go for walks, coffees and things like that. I’m a great coffee connoisseur so I like going out and getting coffee.”
Percy says the programme helps get him out of the house as well as giving his daughter (and care partner) a break.
Four South Island Alzheimers NZ organisations and Dementia Canterbury work together to provide consistent DMW Educationin the Te Waiponamu HomeShare Pilot programme. The pilot is being delivered in partnership with Presbyterian Support Upper South Island (PSUSI), Presbyterian Support Otago (PSO) Presbyterian Support South Canterbury (PSSC), and Arowhenua.
Alzheimers Marlborough Manager Catherine Donnelly says theirs was the first programme to be up and running successfully which has become the model for other HomeShare programmes.
There are two programmes in her area – one in Blenheim and one supporting PSUSI’s work at Havelock.
“Spring Creek HomeShare – which we manage – is an extension of the work Alzheimers members do in our day centre.”
Catherine says HomeShare takes a holistic approach to supporting people living with dementia mate wareware, particularly as regular day programmes are designed typically for people at a more advanced stage of their journey. Valuing the person with dementia mate wareware and those who care for them is vital – and speaks to the heart of the programme.
Since the programme is mostly held in people’s homes, or homely community spaces, they have taken some health and safety precautions like painting white stripes on steps so people can see them better.
She says the adaptability of the programme is one of it’s points of difference.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s six cups of coffee in a row – the plans are there but they can change. It’s all about adaptation and being able to think on your feet.”
For example, one day somebody brought along something which the group then spent the day fixing in the host’s shed.
“So that wasn’t what was intended for the day but it didn’t matter – it was something meaningful.”
Alzheimers Otago Manager Antoinette McLean says the organisation is privileged to be able to support the HomeShare activities in addition to their other brain activity programmes delivered throughout Otago.
There are three HomeShare programmes they facilitate – one in Wanaka, one in Cromwell and one in Queenstown.
Each HomeShare site has its own character and design based upon the needs of the local community.
She adds there is now a waitlist for the programmes, and attendance has been steady, proving that the service has been much needed and long-awaited.
The Dementia Mate Wareware HomeShare pilot and six other pilots being implemented around the country are being evaluated by an Auckland University team on behalf of Health NZ.
Keep up-to-date with all PSNZ news here.
Housing Insecurity in the Elderly
Presbyterian Support New Zealand are proud to endorse the Housing Insecurity report and support data below.
The Importance of thinking about how you want to age
As the years fly by, it’s easy to see how people can turn around and suddenly find themselves rapidly approaching retirement having given little thought to what they would like to do or how they want to age. However, putting some thought into it now can really pay off later.
Between now and 2040, the New Zealand population will grow by 12%, but the number of people aged over 65 will jump by 44% and the number of over-85’s will double to nearly 200,000 (Stats NZ).
How do you imagine growing older? Making a few key decisions now can smooth the road ahead and help ensure you age the way you want to.
From a financial perspective, it is important to keep your Will updated and set up an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) to specify and safeguard your wishes if you can no longer make decisions.
Creating an Advanced Care Plan is also a good idea because it helps you clarify what you want in your later years including for instance, what you want or would not want at the end of life.
The next question is where do you want to be? Do you plan to stay in your own home for as long as you can, could you move in with family, or would you prefer to go into aged residential care facility (e.g. rest home)?
If you’d prefer to stay in the community, you may be able to stay at home longer than you think. There are wonderful, personalised services like Enliven that offer up to 30 hours per week personal care and household management services to support you with this.
Other key questions to consider are:
Is where you live now going to be suitable as you grow older?
Are your living and bedroom spaces all on one level to make it easier to get around?
Are your bathrooms accessible if you need to use a walker at some point? Is your house too big?
Are you living close to your GP, hospital services, and public transport?
All these things can contribute to your quality of life.
Staying connected to friends and family and keeping up with your interests is important as you age and has proven health benefits. What’s good for your heart is good for your mind, keep active and remember the power of a good laugh.
Enliven also has day services based in community settings throughout the country, which are designed to support people make the most of their independence during the day. A personalised programme is developed with each person to provide opportunities for social interaction and engagement in the local community.
Enliven services are free and can be accessed through your GP who will then refer you to a Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination agency (NASC). A NASC assessor will meet with you to discuss your needs and your choice of the service you’d like to use.
Don’t leave asking for help for too long, if you need help, talk to your GP.
You don’t have to go into an aged residential care facility (rest home). You can stay in your own home for as long as you are able.
Enliven is a values-based health and disability service that is part of Presbyterian Support Northern.
Aotearoa Aged Care Action Plan
Presbyterian Support New Zealand are proud to endorse the Aged Care Action Plan.
Our Dementia Mate Wareware HomeShare Pilot in Te Wai Pounamu
Presbyterian Support Upper South Island is proud to hold the contract for a collaboration between 12 organisations across Te Waipounamu – 4 Home Care, 5 Alzheimer/Dementia NGOs and 3 Marae. Together we plan to provide respite to support the South Island’s rural communities, Māori, and people with Young Onset Dementia.
Our goal is to weave Treaty Enhancing approaches in all that is undertaken and deliver respite for the target populations in 17 sites across Te Waipounamu (13 rural, 3 Māori and 1 Young Onset service).
Our mission is to provide a day respite service that is fun to attend and provides socialisation, stimulation, friendship and education. All referrals are through Te Whatu Ora’s NASC assessment teams which ensures the service is free: there are no private payers for this government-funded pilot. Together we developed and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to agree on the key responsibilities of each agency and understand how teams will work together.
If it’s led by Presbyterian Support, it’s values driven.
| Arohatanga | Respect |
| Raranga | Caring |
| Manaaki | Compassion |
| Whakawhanaungatanga | Relationship Building |
| Kaitiakitanga | Guardianship |
We also developed a Position Paper on Dementia/Mate Wareware to go further promoting these values with decision-makers and advocating for more measures to be taken as New Zealand’s population ages.
[To view Presbyterian Support NZ’s position paper on Dementia/Mate Wareware click here].
If you’re in the South Island and living with Dementia, or have a whānau member with Mate Wareware, it doesn’t matter what age – contact us at Presbyterian Support for information about how to be assessed by a local NASC team for referral to our Pilot programme.
Our rural Homeshares can be found in Wanaka, Oamaru, Balclutha, Waimate, Geraldine, Temuka, Wakefield, Spring Creek, Havelock, and Reefton. We are working on HomeShare with our Māori Health teams in Otago, Timaru, and Christchurch. The Homeshare for Young Onset Dementia is in Ōtautahi, Christchurch.
Story ends.
Supporting Our Older People
Are we doing enough, as a country, to be able to support our older people now and into the future?
NZCCSS have delved into this question as part of their latest report, Te Kōrero mō ngā Kaumātua: Exploring the context of older people in Aotearoa New Zealand.
This online resource provides the fullest possible picture of the social, environmental and structural context of older people in New Zealand – as well as what is missing. By framing it as an easy-to-read guide with links to further information, we hope it will be of benefit to a wide variety of people in Aotearoa – those who form the cohort, policymakers, the community, health and social services workforce, funders, families, the media, or anyone with a curiosity about this age stage.
With a rapidly ageing population, having high quality, accessible and clear information to support understanding of this group is crucial. And yet, the information needed to gain a full picture is spread widely and can require specialist skills – and considerable time – to track down. This resource seeks to correct that and aims to be a considered overview of a complex field.
This work was also intended as a call to action, to generate interest and spark collaboration. NZCCSS members have observed that many of the issues faced by older New Zealanders can be traced back to a lack of prioritisation of older persons’ needs. NZCCSS feel strongly that this is because of systemic ageism that undervalues and deprioritises the needs of older New Zealanders.
Without specific older persons’ policy, and attention within and across the system, the issues we are seeing of insufficient funding, isolation and loneliness, physical and mental health deterioration, digital divide, and lack of visibility for older persons’ needs will persist or grow as this population increases in size.
Te Kōrero mō ngā Kaumātua is available on the NZCCSS website and they’re sure you will find it useful. They are available to come in to present their findings to your team as well as collaborate on next steps to best support our older people across Aotearoa. If you’re interested in this, please email .
For more articles from Presbyterian Support New Zealand follow this link to our News page.