And it is not at the Mossbrae rest-home, the 92-year-old says.
The rest-home at Mosgiel has copped some flak over the past few weeks over staffing levels, building upkeep and food standards.
But as far as Mr Fairhurst is concerned that is not what he has experienced.
His wife Toni, 88, has been in the facility for two years and he goes and visits her every day.
‘‘There’s nothing wrong with the food. They’re all made — roast meat and three vege sort of thing, and it’s all cooked nicely, it’s all nice and warm. Then they have a cold pudding. Porridge for breakfast. It is all very good,’’ he said.
‘‘I quite often have my lunch around here, and I’ve been doing this for a couple of years, and I haven’t found a meal that I couldn’t eat.
‘‘My brother’s wife is in a rest-home in Dunedin and he would ask for a cup of tea and they wouldn’t give him one. There is nothing like that here. They are all very friendly and helpful.’’
Being a nurse or assistant at a rest-home was not a job many people would want to do — ‘‘wipe old people’s bottoms for most of the day.’’
The nurses may have come from all corners of the world, but they all worked hard and remained positive.
Accusations reported in the Otago Daily Times included low staffing levels at the weekend, people being left alone for too long and the food being inedible.
Mr Fairhurst said moving into a rest-home was a massive change in a person’s life and not everyone adapted to it, especially when they got older.
His wife, who had limited use of her voice, was happy, he said.
The previous manager, who was at the centre of many complaints, had moved on earlier this month and a temporary manager and the rest of the staff were doing a good job, Mr Fairhurst said.
He was accompanied by family dog Bobby yesterday — also a regular visitor to the complex.
