Meet Living Well Advisor Alex Peaston-Jones
Meet Living Well Advisor Alex Peaston-Jones
While Arvida Good Friends has a very cool smartphone app to simplify management of helper services, we’re also very human. That means you can pick up the phone and talk to a real person about anything to do with our services.
On the end of our Christchurch helpline is Living Well advisor Alex Peaston-Jones, a highly-experienced customer care person with a degree in psychology and counselling. She’s always worked in person-centred roles, so chatting to potential members is the easiest thing in the world.
“If someone’s thinking about joining Arvida Good Friends, so that they can get some help at home, talking to me is a great place to start. I help people to figure out whether they want to come on board, even if it’s just for a trial period.”
Alex understands that recognising you need a bit of help around the home, because you’re not as young as you used to be, is a big step.
“Deciding to find out about a home helper can be daunting for a lot of people, but we make sure it’s not a big deal. The whole point of Arvida Good Friends is accessible help that fits in with how you like things done. You might need someone to do your shopping, a physio to help you exercise safely or a handyman to help out with home maintenance. My job is to answer questions and ask questions, so that the next step is clear.”
Apart from answering questions about Arvida Good Friends, Alex is a kind of agony aunt for other questions to do with senior living, such as ‘when is the right time to move into a retirement community?’ or ‘how can I have a good chat with my children about the help I need?’.
“Arvida Good Friends services are aimed at older people and those with disabilities, so we understand the entire landscape of supported lifestyles. If a caller has been toying with the idea of moving into a community, my counselling experience can help them to weigh up the pros and cons. And if someone is determined to stay in their own place for as long as possible, with help arriving as required, I can help them to understand how that can happen in a way that feels natural and easy-going.”
For Christchurch residents who have already joined Arvida Good Friends, Alex can help with booking services. While all services can be booked with our smartphone app, members are always welcome to make arrangements over the phone or by sending an email.
As a Living Well advisor, Alex works Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm. In addition to answering calls from members and potential members, she replies to emails and Facebook enquiries.
If you’re curious about Arvida Good Friends, get in touch with Alex and start asking questions. You can call her on 0800 20 41 20 or email [email protected]