Making Memories with Ron Smith Care Centre: 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.