My project evolved from a holiday to New Zealand where I observed that residential care and 24-hour nursing care in New Zealand is viewed very differently compared to in the UK. I wanted to find out why this was, and what could be learnt from New Zealand and brought back to the UK.

At the time I was planning my Fellow's project, I was a registered home manager of a large nursing home in the UK and when families were discussing the care needs of relatives, I kept hearing phrases like - "I can't believe I am doing this to him." I was saddened by the feelings of guilt families told me they felt.

By contrast, in New Zealand I noted families talked with pride that they were making plans to move individuals into residential care facilities. They were proactive in planning future care needs.

This is a very simplistic view and I was keen to learn more. I felt sure that there were useful lessons to learn and that I could build a picture of transferable ideas, plans and processes to share with colleagues and networks in the UK. Then I made a big life change, deciding to live and work in New Zealand, and I am now working as a practice manager on Waiheke.