Elphin Lodge has Mandela Day all knitted up

Rand Aid’s Elphin Lodge Complex held a Crochet/Knit-a-ton for Mandela Day on Monday, July 18. Staff members, residents from Elphin Lodge village and elders from the Ron Smith Care Centre enthusiastically participated, seeing who could complete the most knitting or crocheting in the allotted 67 minutes. The completed squares will be joined to make blankets which will be donated to the less fortunate. Pictured is Shirley McTaggart hard at work. 

Results:

Greer James was the knitting queen, having completed 102 rows. In second place was Vera Lenthall and third was Jean Johnson. The fastest with a crochet needle was Aletha de Klerk, who managed three squares. Irma Lederman (two squares) was second and Rae Hurwitz (one-and-a-half squares) was third.

At 94, village resident Erica Penney showed the younger folk a thing or two as her fingers flew and her laughs came readily. Knitting alongside her was neighbour Wendy Köhler.

Ron Smith Care Centre caregiver Rodney Baloyi was all thumbs but a good sport at the Knitathon.

Margarit Beattie and Elaine van Heerden share a laugh while hard at work for a good cause.

Salina Mtshali teaches Debbie Christen how to crochet.

Bunny Marks.

Volunteer Dara Migliore.

Rudzani Nengudza from Housekeeping.

 Pam Moodley from accounts.

Lee-ann Ramathibela and OT Bianca Richards.

Asnath Sithole from Housekeeping.

Hilda Mabaso, the head of Housekeeping.

Vivian Mphaso, who is part of the catering staff.

Shirley Makwarela with resident Colleen Blowe.

Salina Mtshali, OTT.

AND THE WINNERS ARE ....

First prize knitting winner Greer James (102 rows) with Adrienne Reid.

Second prize knitting winner Vera Lenthall (60 rows – casted off) with Adrienne Reid.

Third prize winner knitting Jean Johnson (60 rows, still casting off) with Adrienne Reid.

First prize crocheting winner Aletha de Klerk (three squares) with Adrienne Reid.

 Second prize crocheting winner Irma Lederman (two squares) with Adrienne Reid.

Hot drinks, cake and loved ones served up at afternoon tea

Resident Lorna Liddiard (bottom right) with her daughter Lindsey Sforza (left), her son in-law Felize (top left) and volunteer Veronique Wilson.

Sunday Tea on River Lodge 3

Sunday tea with loved ones made the afternoon of July 10 that much sweeter for residents of Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre.

A large gathering of people came together for the lovely tea that was hosted on River Lodge 3, the special wing for those living with dementia. Residents were joined by their families and all the staff and volunteers working and assisting on the wing.

Whole families came along with children and turned out in numbers to enjoy Sunday tea with their mom, dad or granny.  A huge variety of delicious sweet and savoury eats was generously and abundantly provided by the wing’s special volunteers and was appreciated by all. 

One guest commented that it was food fit for a wedding reception, whilst another remarked: “What a delightful surprise -- I thought we would get koeksisters and tea!”

Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s Manager: Recreational Programmes, introduced many of the people who are involved in the residents’ daily lives and who, in one way or another, give them the love, care and attention that they need and deserve. 

Nursing, housekeeping, occupational therapy, kitchen, admin, and management staff, as well as 12 of the volunteers who are dedicated to River Lodge 3, were all introduced. She explained that all these people along with all the family members, are known as Care Partners, and acknowledged them for their contribution to the care and well being of the River Lodge 3  residents living with dementia. 

Zabeth Zühlsdorff, Rand Aid’s GM Services & Advance Division, thanked the volunteers for the huge support that they give to the care centre. “Their care and concern for the residents is remarkable and we cannot do without their input.”

As part of Rand Aid’s commitment to practising person-centred care, each family was asked at the tea to get together with their loved one and fill out an information form which was created to help all care partners know each person and their histories, needs and interests a bit better.

This activity gave the families of dementia residents the opportunity to meaningfully engage with each other and to chat about the residents’ lives. The information recorded will help the care centre see beyond the disease of dementia and to know each elder as a whole person. 

The Sunday Tea was a wonderful way to bring all the care partners together and to celebrate life, families and memories and to offer each other support and encouragement in caring for Ron Smith Care Centre’s special residents living with dementia.

Resident Betty Hood (second from left) with her son Robert Hood (far left), great grandson, Nathan Owens (third from left) and granddaughter Sally Owens.

Resident Winsome Green (centre) with her son, Shaun Green, and daughter, Lauren Hall.

Gloria Caruso with her daughter, Lucia McMullan.

Zabeth Zuhlsdorff and Helen Petrie with River Lodge 3 staff.

Sarah van Tonder with granddaughter, Tanya Kearney.

Katrina Diedericks with volunteer Margaret O’Donoghue.

Resident Gloria Caruso’s gorgeous granddaughter Sienna.

 Eddie and Joy Carton.

Resident Howard Motau (second from left) with his son Semadi, granddaughter Boati, and daughter in-law Asmeralda.

The Lospoto clan came out in full force to enjoy Sunday Tea with their loved one, Anna Lospoto.

Horsing around for Durban July

 Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre joined in the action of Africa’s biggest horseracing event. On Friday, July 1, 2016, the day before the Durban July, some of the staff, residents and volunteers dressed up and had fun parading around in their fancy hats and Durban July finery, much to the delight of all the residents. They seemed to enjoy the spectacle and many residents remembered their previous experiences with horse racing and all that goes along with it. “We had the fashion, we just needed the horses, champagne and oysters to complete the day!” remarked one spectator. Pictured is volunteer Shirley Blieden ablaze in orange.

Staff members show off their finery. Front row: Jennifer Sigida, Sharon Lesufi and Bianca Richards. Back row: Hilda Mabaso, Debbie Christen, Olga Motloung, Portia Tshayisa, Elizabeth Peterson, Cyndy Mononoko, Thabisile Ndobe, Nikki Els, Evelyn Shilubane, Ndifelani Mavhila, and Noluvuyo Mlandu.

Resident from Cedar Park Jill Jones

Horsing around at the Durban July Fancy Dress Day:

Left to right:  Dineo Chukutswane, Noluvuyo Mlandu, Evelyn Shilubane, Debbie Christen, Ndifelani Mavhila, Sharon Lesufi, and Hilda Mabaso

Happy 90th birthday

Ron Smith Care Centre resident June Smith celebrated her 90^th birthday on June 20, 2016. Born in Jacksdale, Derbyshire in 1926, June was in the Women's Royal Air Force during the Second World War, working as a wireless operator and communicating via Morse code. She met her late husband Douglas, who was part of the navy, while still living in England. They were together for 50 years. After moving to South Africa in 1987, she was active in Meals on Wheels in Johannesburg. A great cook in her day, June specialised in cakes and biscuits. The mother of one daughter, she is grandmother to two boys and great grandmother to four.

Food cravings satisfied

The residents of Ron Smith Care Centre’s Cedar Park wing were craving McDonald’s hamburgers and their famous chips, so Sister Eunice Lakay jumped into action and organised takeaways on Saturday, June 11, 2016. The residents and some staff enjoyed their triple patty burgers and said the McDonald’s treat made for a nice change which they really appreciated.

Joy Smith and Joan Gilbert: “These chips are the best!”

Rand Aid employees Maggie Kgarose, Adolphina Magwete and Agnes MacKay from Cedar Park: “McDonald’s has arrived -- we are so happy!”

A table of satisfied diners.

Willy Krevatin going for it, as he tucks in for the long-awaited McDonald’s treat!