Awhina Health Care

17/06/2026

🏡 Could Your Loved One Benefit from a Little Extra Support?

Sometimes the signs are subtle.

You may notice:

✅ The house isn't being kept as tidy as usual
✅ Meals are being skipped or forgotten
✅ Personal care is becoming more difficult
✅ Increased forgetfulness
✅ Less confidence getting out and about

These changes don't always mean someone can no longer live independently.

Often, a little support can help people remain safe, confident, and comfortable in their own home for longer.

💚 Trust your instincts. If something doesn't seem quite right, it's worth having a conversation.

🌿 Living Well at Home
💙 Caring for Our Community

Awhina Healthcare

16/06/2026

☕ What Would Make Coffee & Care Valuable for You? ☕

Only one week to go until our first Coffee & Care gathering, and we'd love to hear from you.

As carers and family members, we all have different experiences, challenges, and questions. We want this group to be shaped by the people who attend it.

So we'd like to ask:

💭 What would make Coffee & Care valuable for you?

Would you like:
☕ A chance to meet other carers?
☕ Practical tips for supporting someone at home?
☕ Information about local services and resources?
☕ A safe space to share experiences?
☕ Guest speakers from time to time?
☕ Simply a coffee and friendly conversation?

There are no right or wrong answers.

Our goal is to create a welcoming, supportive space where people can connect, learn from one another, and feel less alone on their caring journey.

📍 The Quay, Ōhope
📅 Tuesday 23 June 2026
🕙 10:00am

Whether you're currently caring for a loved one, have cared for someone in the past, or are simply interested in supporting others in our community, you're warmly welcome.

Please comment below or send us a private message with your ideas.

We look forward to meeting you.

Ngā mihi,

Donna & Ann
Awhina Healthcare
🌿 Living Well at Home
💙 Caring for Our Community

10/06/2026

💧 Is It Dehydration or Something More?

As we get older, our sense of thirst naturally decreases.

This means an older person can become dehydrated without realising it — and the signs are not always obvious.

Common signs of dehydration may include:

💧 Increased confusion or forgetfulness
💧 Dizziness or unsteadiness
💧 Feeling unusually tired
💧 Headaches
💧 Dry mouth or lips
💧 Dark-coloured urine
💧 Increased risk of falls

Many families are surprised to learn that dehydration can sometimes look like a sudden decline in health or a change in behaviour.

Simple ways to encourage fluids:

☕ Offer small drinks regularly throughout the day
🍵 Warm drinks can be especially appealing during winter
🍉 Include foods with high water content such as fruit, soups, and stewed fruit
🥤 Keep drinks within easy reach

When should you seek medical advice?

Please contact your GP or Healthline if someone becomes:

🔴 Increasingly confused
🔴 Very sleepy or difficult to wake
🔴 Unable to keep fluids down
🔴 Showing signs of severe weakness or dizziness

A simple increase in fluids can sometimes make a remarkable difference.

At Awhina Healthcare, we often help families identify small issues early before they become bigger problems.

🌿 Living Well at Home
💙 Caring for Our Community

Awhina Healthcare

09/06/2026

☕ Coffee & Care with Awhina ☕

Sometimes the best support starts with a simple conversation.

Caring for a loved one at home can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging, exhausting, and at times a little lonely.

That's why we're creating Coffee & Care with Awhina — a relaxed opportunity for carers, family members, and anyone supporting a loved one at home to come together over a coffee and connect with others who understand.

💚 Share experiences
💚 Ask questions
💚 Learn from others
💚 Meet local people on a similar journey
💚 Or simply enjoy a coffee and friendly conversation

There is no formal programme, no presentations, and no expectations.

Just community, connection, and support.

📍 The Quay, Ōhope
📅 Tuesday 23 June 2026
🕙 10:00am

Whether you're currently caring for someone, have cared for a loved one in the past, or simply want to connect with others in our community, we'd love to meet you.

Please feel free to comment below, send us a message, or share this post with someone who may benefit.

Ngā mihi,

Donna & Ann
Awhina Healthcare
🌿 Living Well at Home
💙 Caring for Our Community

04/06/2026

⚠️ When Should You Worry After an Older Person Has a Fall?

Falls are common as we age, but not every fall is "just a fall."

Sometimes injuries or complications may not become obvious until hours or even days later.

Here are some signs that should prompt medical advice:

🔴 Unable to stand or weight bear
If an older person cannot get up, walk, or put weight through a leg after a fall, they should be assessed by a healthcare professional.

🔴 Increasing pain
Pain that becomes worse rather than better over the following days should not be ignored.

🔴 Head injury
Seek medical advice if there was a bump to the head, especially if there is:
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Changes in behaviour

🔴 New confusion or unusual behaviour
A sudden change in thinking, memory, or alertness may indicate illness or injury and should be assessed.

🔴 Shortness of breath or chest pain
These symptoms require urgent medical attention.

🔴 Large bruises, swelling, or deformity
These may indicate an underlying fracture or significant soft tissue injury.

💚 What can help after a minor fall?
• Regular pain relief as advised
• Gentle movement
• Rest between activities
• Warmth and comfort
• Plenty of fluids and good nutrition

Most importantly, don't be afraid to ask for help.

At Awhina Healthcare, we often support families after a fall by providing nursing assessment, practical advice, reassurance, and guidance about when further medical review may be needed.

📞 If you're unsure, seek advice early.

Awhina Healthcare
🌿 Living Well at Home
💙 Caring for Our Community

02/06/2026

Hi everyone 👋

We’re Donna and Ann from Awhina Healthcare.

As Registered Nurses working within our local community, we regularly meet family members and carers who are doing an amazing job supporting loved ones at home — often quietly and without much support for themselves.

We’re hoping to create a relaxed space where people can come together over coffee, share stories, ask questions, or simply enjoy some friendly company.

At this stage we’re looking at:
📍 The Quay, Ōhope
📅 Tuesday 23 June 2026
🕙 Around 10am

We’d still love to hear your thoughts about times, venues, or ideas.

Feel free to comment below or send us a message ☕

Ngā mihi,
Donna & Ann
Awhina Healthcare – Living Well at Home
Caring for our Community

27/05/2026

26/05/2026

☕ Coffee and Care with Awhina ☕

Caring for someone at home can be rewarding — but it can also feel isolating at times.

We know many carers spend so much time looking after others that they rarely have space to connect, share experiences, or simply take a moment for themselves.

That’s why we’re exploring the idea of a relaxed local coffee group here in Ōhope — a chance to sit down together, enjoy a coffee, and connect with others who understand the journey of caring for family members and loved ones.

No formal programme.
No pressure.
Just conversation, connection, and support.

Starting : Tuesday 23 June 2026

Thank you so much for all the lovely feedback so far — we’re excited to see where this may lead.

Ngā mihi,
Donna & Ann
Awhina Healthcare – Living Well at Home

22/05/2026

The disability support system continues to evolve, and many families are finding the changes confusing and difficult to navigate. This RNZ article gives an overview of the Government’s latest plans around Disability Support Services and funding responsibilities.
At Awhina Healthcare, we remain passionate about supporting people to live well at home and helping families understand the supports available to them.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/595604/government-seeks-to-clarify-disability-support-services-functions?fbclid=IwdGRzaAR9pCtjbGNrBH2jNWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHsBtN_YCBW5CLwvrM6KGuunwl2vZBzjS_kRi2oMxrUIUv8maAS4xOYPrpSSl_aem_MTNpp19s9JQ9kN8B9TAFCA&sfnsn=mo

It comes after a Supreme Court ruling that two parents caring for their disabled children were employees of the government.

21/05/2026

☕ Coffee and Care with Awhina ☕

We’re thinking about starting a relaxed local coffee group for carers, support people, and anyone helping care for family members at home.

The idea is simple:
a chance to connect, chat, share experiences, and enjoy a coffee together in a supportive and welcoming environment.

We’re looking at:
📍 The Quay, Ōhope
📅 Tuesdays
🕙 Mid-morning (around 10am)

Before we organise the first gathering, we’d love some community feedback:

☕ Would this interest you or someone you know?
☕ Would Tuesday mornings suit?
☕ Is The Quay in Ōhope a good venue?
☕ Would another time or location work better?

No pressure, no formal programme — just connection, conversation, and support.

Feel free to comment below or send us a private message.

Ngā mihi,
Donna & Ann
Awhina Healthcare – Living Well at Home