A century of life and love celebrated

Ross Home resident Vera Sivertsen, recently marked an extraordinary milestone, celebrating her 100th birthday surrounded by friends and family.

Turning 100 is a very special occasion, and the Ross Home team were delighted to support Vera and her whānau to come together and celebrate this remarkable day.

A lot can change over a century. Originally from the United Kingdom, Vera – affectionately known as Dolly to her family because of her small size at birth – left school at just 14 to begin work as a housemaid. Near the end of the Second World War, in 1945, she moved to London, where she worked at Hyde Park for the president of Shell Canada. During this time, she met a number of notable figures, including the Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Vera later immigrated to New Zealand to join her brother Gordon, who had made the move a couple of years earlier. She began working at Roxburgh Hospital before settling in Dunedin, where she met her husband to be, Bob.

Vera was very committed to the local community. Before her marriage, she was a Leader of the Halfway Bush Girl Guides, remaining friends with her guides as they have grown into adults. Gardening was also a lifelong passion, and she is a founding member of the Sawyers Bay Garden Club.

Travel was another great love; at first she explored with Bob, and later continued travelling on her own.

Remarkably, Vera continued working into her 80s and lived independently until her late 90s.
Today, Vera has six great, great grandchildren, all living in Dunedin.

Her 100th birthday celebration at Ross Home was an incredibly special occasion. One highlight was receiving a special card from the King and Queen, along with beautiful flowers sent by family in Scotland and family visiting all the way from Vancouver!

In our Enliven carehomes, staff understand how important whānau and friends are in residents’ lives. We always encourage residents to celebrate milestones and gather with loved ones in ways that are meaningful to them.

This commitment to manaakitanga – caring with dignity and respect – is evident every day in our carehomes. Whether supporting residents with daily care or celebrating special occasions, staff and volunteers go out of their way to ensure residents genuinely feel at home.

Banner image: Vera celebrating 100 years with family and friends at Ross Home

Ross Home – excellence in care

Ross Home’s recent surveillance audit came back with overwhelmingly positive feedback.

It highlighted how the team consistently works together to accommodate resident and family needs and preferences, noting the high quality of care provided — particularly for residents with complex needs. This feedback reflects the experience, skill and professionalism of the nursing and wider care team.