Rhodes on Cashmere encompasses the original Rhodes Memorial Home, a 25 bed licensed rest home, and a more recently attached Retirement Village of 16 one and two bedroom apartments.
Rhodes is the only retirement complex situated on the hills in Christchurch, thereby offering unique and outstanding views over the city, Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps.
Please note: The rest home rooms will be closing in October for seismic strengthening and re-development into self-contained apartments. Short-term respite care is available in the meantime.
The original Rhodes buildings and estate was established in 1886 by means of a substantial contribution from the widow and family of Mr Robert Heaton Rhodes, a key pioneering figure in early Christchurch who was for a time a member of parliament. It was built in his memory as a convalescent home for the residents of Christchurch, the hill site chosen to escape the damp and smog of the city and aid the recovery from illnesses.
A handsome structure, and one of the first on the Cashmere Hills, the gracious home retains unique old world charm with spacious halls and living areas and is recognized as a national heritage building. In 1994 the building was extensively renovated.
The Rhodes Memorial Convalescent Home Inc, incorporated in 1924 by a special Act of Parliament, continues to be administered by a management committee who give their time voluntarily. Many of the committee have, or have had, family as residents. Any operating profits are returned for the benefit of the complex.
Rhodes on Cashmere stands on a plateau off Dyers Pass Road, with magnificent uninterrupted views. The elevation has always been a key ingredient of the well being of residents. While the original Rhodes estate extended all the way from Dyers Pass Road to Cashmere Road and included its own vegetable gardens and livestock paddocks, over the years much of the land was sold off for subdivision to fund maintenance of the home and, in 2000, the construction of the retirement village apartments.
A unique feature of the layout at Rhodes on Cashmere is the internal access between Rest Home and Retirement Village.
While each area retains its own separate entrances, they are attached to provide all weather internal access allowing residents to share (if they so wish) the community facilities and activities.
This also enables nursing staff to provide prompt emergency care for the retirement apartments and softens the transition to the rest home for apartment residents once the need for a higher level of care is required.
We have made a commitment:
- To provide our residents with the highest standard of care
- To ensure our residents maintain their independence and dignity
- To respect our residents privacy, identity and individual needs
- To fulfill residents’ individual physical, spiritual, cultural and emotional needs
- To provide a secure, caring and happy environment
We will achieve this by treating our residents with courtesy, sensitivity and kindness, and by maintaining best practice quality standards.