WHY THE GOOD LIFE IS
M O R E T H A N J U S T A D R E A M
AT THE HENLEY
Patrick Smith has clear and noble motivations as he strives to deliver a
great retirement experience for his residents.
He wants them to be happy and healthy. He wants them to be active and
engaged socially. And he wants to live up to his responsibility to provide
superior accommodation, amenities, supported living and care at The Henley
on Broadwater lifestyle resort on the Gold Coast.
“Quality is really important,” says Patrick, the Managing Director of The
Henley and co-owner with his business partner Kris Ivey. “It enables us to
sleep well at night knowing we are providing the very best to those people
who choose to call The Henley their home.”
The Henley on Broadwater is leading the trend towards multi-storey
retirement living whereby residents enjoy apartments with great ocean views
and a luxury hotel feel, while also having the peace of mind that first-class
support and care services are available if required. Located adjacent to the
Broadwater Parklands and on the doorstep of a vibrant retail, entertainment
and leisure precinct, The Henley gives residents access to the best beaches,
restaurants, shops and attractions the Gold Coast has to offer. On site,
they can access the resort’s bistro, a swimming pool, a gymnasium and
hairdressing salon, a men’s shed and a sky deck community including a herb
and vegetable garden and bowling green.
For Patrick, it is all about creating a vibrant environment that allows
residents to lead a fulfilling retirement. “At The Henley our vision is to take
a holistic perspective and consider all the elements that deliver a good life in
retirement and to then work very hard with our community to support them,”
he says.
BUSINESS SMARTS, PLUS COMPASSION
Patrick’s background in health and business makes him ideally suited to lead
The Henley. He started his professional career as a community pharmacist and,
after running a number of successful businesses, purchased the former Grande
Pacific site on the Broadwater in 2014 and set about developing a market-leading
lifestyle resort.
Patrick endorses a four-plank strategy for retirees seeking a good life. First,
striving for an active life is essential, whether that is socially or physically
or both. That is why The Henley offers wellbeing and fitness options such as
water-based programs with a physiotherapist, gym sessions with an exercise
physiologist, walking and gentle exercise groups, yoga, tai chi, seniors
Zumba and line dancing. “And because it’s so social we’re really starting
to see the participation growing and people feeling the benefits of these
activities” Patrick says.
Second, residents should feel as though they are part of the community,
off-site and on-site. The Henley’s central location in a vibrant tourism area
complements this goal, as do the efforts of a social committee that organises
live entertainment, happy hours, barbecues, bus trips and boat cruises.
Third, Patrick wants residents to be able to live independently in their own
home while being able to make their own life and healthcare choices. This
is delivered through a home-care philosophy that provides 24-hour nursing
support, if needed, along with assistance in areas such as doing laundry and
other household chores. “It supports you to do what’s important in your life
without allowing care to become your life,” Patrick says.
Fourth and finally, with only a minority of residents receiving care support,
The Henley team aims to provide an environment in which residents do not
feel as though they are living in an aged-care facility.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Perhaps nothing better illustrates Patrick’s commitment to excellence
than the attention to quality food at The Henley. Residents can dine in at
The Henley Bistro, or browse from an a la carte room-service menu which
changes weekly. Chefs prepare fresh, dietician-approved meals every day
and Patrick firmly believes that the focus on food and nutrition makes
a statement that the management team cares about the residents. “Great
food and equally good service underline our belief that nourishment and
wellbeing are so important to a happy and healthy life in retirement.” More
broadly, Patrick believes owners of retirement living and lifestyle resorts
need to understand why they are in business – it is not just to provide real
estate, but to have a higher philosophy around delivering an atmosphere in
which retirees can thrive and lead a positive life.
48 | Pindara Magazine ISSUE 12 | 2018