Testimonials
Family Testimonials
Helene
Mum loved every moment when with you all. We just wish we had been aware of your programme sooner so Mum could have attended for a longer time as being with nature and having fun with other likeminded people was perfect for her mind and body wellness. The experience and dedication of you both and your amazing team of volunteers has been rated very highly by our whānau and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts as we know Mum certainly had happy days with you. We wish Home 4 All to become a household name in Kāpiti so many more visitors and their families can reap the positive reward of belonging and participation.
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 be 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
Robyn
My husband, Chris has been attending Home4all once a week for the past two years. Home4all has made a huge impact on the quality of our lives. The care Marian, Jan & their team offer is wholistic & life affirming. Chris has gone from being withdrawn & sad to a more contented person. The program offers him consistency & there is genuine positive regards shown towards him and the other visitors. He responds well to the friendly banter, especially from Marian and will tell me that they are good people.
The caring is not limited to Chris. Marian & Jan are generous with their knowledge & understanding for those of us caring for a loved one with dementia. The gentle encouragement to confront the illness and to make changes have been invaluable for me. They have sat with me through tears & grief and today I am more at peace with Chris’s dementia.
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."
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."
Visitor Testimonials
Wayne
"It's great to have somewhere to come. Jan and Marian have done a great job"
Tanya
"Amazing people always turn up. I like being part of something, it's the biggest thing"
Andrew
"I love it here. I really enjoy going on the bike"
Kathryn
"I'm allowed to sit where I want to sit, talk to interesting people. I never want to go home"
Dawn
"It's easy. I absolutely love Bella. The multinationals and the stories they tell are amazing. It's a type of freedom. You can say whatever you want and won't be judged"
Verna
"H4A means what it says: a refuge for anyone who needs it and a family of supporters to tend to weary while they rejuvenate. The animals are part of the support team and their relaxed and affectionate ways lift depressed spirits.
The power of nature is harnessed to the effort and the trees and flowers bloom prettily around you as you roam the large garden or walk the trails to the seaside. Truly a home for all."
Catherine
I don't know where I would be without Home4All. The people here help me to do the things I want to do and we always have a laugh.
Volunteer Testimonials
Aaron
Via Volunteering New Zealand:
"While on sabbatical in New Zealand, Aaron discovered Home4All through Workaway and felt an immediate connection to it's mission.
Volunteering there became a deeply personal experience for Aaron. He saw firsthand how simple acts like listening and offering time could bring dignity, purpose, and community to others.
Through meaningful conversations with Jan, Marian, and the many visitors and volunteers, Aaron found a renewed sense of optimism and gratitude. His time at Home4All reminded him the even the smallest contributions can make a big impact."
Gael
"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."
Ashley
Looking for volunteer work in retirement, I was put in touch with Jan and Marian who were about to start Home4All. There was a lot of practical work that needed doing. I decided to help for about three months. Four years later I'm still there. The work is often hard but great fun. The people there are a lovely bunch to work with. I look at the videos and photographs of the visitors (I work on a day when there are no visitors, preparing things for them) and see the fun and enjoyment they are having and it makes any amount of hard work worth it.
Elise
There are many great things about volunteering at Home4All - the social contact between visitors and volunteers, having lots of laughs, working as a team getting daily jobs done, being physically active; all in a place where everyone can be themselves and we're all treated the same. The real highlight for me is taking visitors for a ride on the duo bike, especially for visitors who love cycling but are not able to do this by themselves anymore. Physical exercise, in a beautiful environment along the Waikanae river; it gets us all in a great mood!
Michael
Being a member of the volunteer team for Home4All, and preparing things in the workshop for the visitors to work with, just gives me so much pleasure, knowing that they'll have a happy day, doing stuff they used to do on a regular basis. I recommend it to all !
Jason
I love my day volunteering each week at H4A. I really enjoy spending time with the guests, hearing their stories, and learning from their experiences in life. H4A provides a beautiful and enriching environment, and I benefit myself from being part of it.