Our Family
We all work together as one big family with visitors, volunteers and hosts. Meet some of our family!
Meet our Home4All family
Everyone is welcome at Home4All and we all work together as one big family.
Hosts & Founders
Jan & Marian
About Us
Jan and Marian came to New Zealand in 2007. The couple both have 30 years healthcare experience in the Netherlands before arriving here and wanted to expand their professional careers by working in a country with a different culture. Over the years they both noticed the limited number of Kiwi care options for people suffering from memory loss (dementia).
They subsequently ‘hatched a plan’ to run healthcare study tours to the Netherlands – to show New Zealand healthcare professionals the innovative care models they’d seen working successfully in their homeland. During those tours they visited places like the “Hogeweyk”, “Buitengewoon” and “de Herbergier” all of which are successful, internationally recognised, examples of small scale living options for people with memory loss. After running three really well-reviewed tours, the response from Kiwi professionals was overwhelmingly positive. They thought: “This could happen in New Zealand”.
So, after careful consideration, Jan and Marian decided to take the initiative themselves and they started looking for an opportunity to develop a small-scale daytime programme for people with dementia in Kāpiti. Just before the first New Zealand-wide ‘lock down’ they found an ideal Home4All property in Raumati. After a year of renovations and garden development, it was time for them to plant the ‘new shoots’ of their venture and open up a purposeful daytime programme for people with memory loss issues.
Since then, Home4All has outgrown the Raumati property. In 2025 they shifted to Waikanae, now with a team of dedicated volunteers to help Home4All continue to grow.
Jan holds a PhD in nursing and regularly publishes articles in national and international journals. He has many years of nursing experience in intensive care, guiding patients and families through complex and critical transitions of life. In New Zealand he has been a healthcare consultant focussing on quality improvement aspects in the aged care sector.
Marian has a broad range of nursing experience in New Zealand and the Netherlands. She has first-hand care experience in aged care facilities, in the community and in hospitals. Marian has worked as a district nurse on the Kāpiti Coast for several years; she is a passionate advocate for her clients both in and outside the care system.
Visitor
Keith
About Me
Keith may be in his 80's, but he'll never let that stop him! He loves working with others in the garden or workshop. He even helped to build our awesome new chicken coop out of old trampoline bases! He loves telling stories, especially of his time growing up back in the UK, and always manages to get a laugh out of his audience.
"Very appealing to be available to come with the group. My ability to do things at 80 odd is because of the people who are so helpful" - Keith
Family Testimonial
"The best days of the week for my husband, Keith, are Wednesdays and Fridays. On these days Keith goes to Home4All. Keith enjoys being with people; he enjoys working outside in the gardens and fields; he loves to help other people; he loves the banter with everyone. Everyone is so friendly and understanding. Thank you all at Home4All for Keith's special days." - Janet
Moon,
Bambi, & Smokey
Nigerian Dwarf Goats
Moon,
Bambi, & Smokey
About Us
These three Brothers Gruff are the friendliest little goats ever! They've been a fixture at Home4All ever since they were old enough to leave their mother and were bottle fed by our visitors until graduating to solid foods. This means that they grew up absolutely loving people and it shows!
All three act just like puppies, and because of their breed they're sized like them too. They love getting a fuss and eating treats from your hand. If you're lucky, they might even jump into your lap for a cuddle!
Professional Cuddler
Bella
About Me
Bella is our absolutely beloved mascot. She's incredibly gentle with all of our visitor and other animals on the farm, but absolutely loves attention.
There's no sneaking up on Home4All with Bella around, she provides the warmest welcomes around. She's got the signature Huntaway bark when she plays, but a quick "klaar" lets her know it's quiet time.
Her favourite thing in the whole world is a game of fetch, but be warned, once you start she won't let you stop!
Volunteer
Gael
About Me
Gael is one of our incredible volunteers! She's got a mean creative streak and doesn't mind getting a bit muddy to get some work done. She's a great listener and doesn't mind waiting for our visitors to find the right words. There's always a good laugh to be had!
"I love being a part of the family that is Home4All, enjoying everyday I spend at the farm as an opportunity to share with the group in a creative way. From a chance encounter at a market 18 months ago, to getting to know the team and working closely with similarly minded folks, I have learnt a lot about myself, my community, and how I can contribute to sharing 'a great day' with our group. I came with a desire to learn more about Dementia and how to support a friend living with a family member recently diagnosed, and have found the experience of working at Home4All, life changing, uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable.
The Green Farm model sits well with my values of sustainability, supporting nature and community connections and now I see the positive benefits of this process in action, not only for those dealing with early onset dementia, but also for family members and our volunteers - the whole 'family' is involved in the care that this model offers."
Testimonials
Hear how Home4All has had an impact on our visitors and their families.
Rachel
“Home4All has welcomed both my sister and her family with open arms. The love and compassion that they show has been truly inspiring and their knowledge has helped us navigate what can bee an exhausting and challenging time. All of us have learnt so much and to see our loved one, who inherited Alzheimer’s disease (eFAD) in her 40’s go from timid and unsure of herself to cheeky, happy and accepting of her situation has been a beautiful thing to see.”
Helene
“The experience and dedication of you both and your amazing team of volunteers has been rated very highly by our whānau. We just wish we had been aware of your programme sooner so Mum could have attended for a longer timee, as being with nature and having fun with other likeminded people was perfect for her mind and body wellness.”
Gillian
“At Home4All Jan and Marian take time to get to know all of their visitors with Dementia. The care they provide is tailored to bring happiness and purpose into daily life with a disability. As the main full time carer for my husband, knowing that one day a week I get a break is also incredibly important. Ian has a good time, I have a good time, and we are both supported by Home4All.”
Denise
“I love how you both helped my husband. I recognise his condition is deteriorating but I am convinced it has slowed down by being with you twice a week. I am always happy to promote Home4All, because I am convinced your philosophy works.”