Getting crafty at Christmas

 

 The residents  had a wonderful time decorating Christmas stockings to hang on their doors.  We managed to hang stockings on every residential door, just in time for Christmas with the hope that Santa would pay a visit to the care centre!

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Holiday happiness at Ron Smith Care Centre

 Unlike so many of the special celebrations and events on the Ron Smith Care Centre calendar, the Christmas celebrations were not cancelled or postponed as a result of the Coronavirus.

 “As humans, we are all wired for connection, socialising and laughing together so on Friday, December 18, residents and staff on all six wings enjoyed a lovely Happy Hour party to celebrate getting through a hard year of dealing with the pandemic and also to find joy in the coming of Christmas. Party guests were invited to shake off their uniforms and everyday clothes and to dress up and rock their best Christmas party look!” says Rand Aid’s Debbie Christen, Manager: Recreational Programmes.

 The beverage menu consisted of white wine, sherry and juice for the residents, whilst staff were supplied with cooldrinks. A variety of delicious cocktail snacks were enjoyed by all. Lively music, including some favourite Christmas tunes, played throughout the party and staff and residents needed little encouragement to sing and dance the afternoon away.

 After much chatter and consultation, party outfits were judged and prizes were awarded to the best dressed lady, gentleman and staff member on each wing. There was much fun and  laughter as residents and staff alike went through the judging process, and much cheering as the winners were jubilantly declared:

 

River Lodge 1

Maureen Morrow

Cecilia Lombard

Juliet Malatji

 

River Lodge 2

Gisela Meinck

Eddie Lazer

Tshepo Malatjie

 

River Lodge 3

Bella Tworetzky

Alfred Tromp

Lufuno Nemutanzhela

 

Lakeside

Shelagh Hawes

Erzebet Tamasi

Ivonne Moguru

 

Cedar Park

Lee Morawitz

Papa Joe Papageorgiou

Florah Tshonisa

 

Woodlands

Yvonne Yardley

Brian Russell

Lusani Mabulele.

Sr Leigh Kotze serves some sherry to Gisela Meinck, the best-dressed lady on River Lodge 2.

Carol-Ann McKenzie presents Cecilia Lombard with her prize.

Juliet Malatji (ENA River Lodge 1 wing) happily accepts her prize.

River Lodge 1 residents being happy at happy hour!

Eddie Lazer beams his famous smile as he wins the best-dressed gentleman award on River Lodge 2.

Tshepo Malatjie  takes home the best-dressed staff member prize on River Lodge 2.

Bella Tworetzky was the best-dressed lady on River Lodge 3. She is seen here with her carer, Pat Mhlanga. 

Alfred Tromp (middle) was voted the best-dressed gentleman on River Lodge 3 and is seen here with his carer, Nomsa Buthelezi (left).

 Leon Shuker (Cedar Park) with Phumudzo Nephiphidi.

The best dressed people on Lakeside: Shelagh Hawes, Ivonne Moguru and Erzebet Tamasi.

The best dressed people on Cedar Park (left to right):  Lee Morawitz, Florah Tshonisa and Papa Joe Papageorgiou with Phumudzo Nephiphidi (back). 

A happy trio of winners on Woodlands (left to right): Lusani Mabulele, Brian Russell and Yvonne Yardley.

Iketeleng Kunyane, Jo Rosen and Joyce Mabowa enjoy the festivities on Woodlands.

Looking beautiful as ‘Mother Christmas’, Shelagh Hawes was voted the best-dressed lady on Lakeside.

Maureen Morrow receives her prize from Carol-Ann McKenzie.

 

 

Santa comes to Ron Smith Care Centre

When John Harvey moved from Rand Aid’s Tarentaal Village to its Ron Smith Care Centre in October, he feared his days of spreading joy as Santa were over.

He had become known as the Santa of Tarentaal because each year, from when he moved to the village in November 2016, he would don a red suit and beard and deliver gifts to residents at the village’s annual Christmas dinner.

Due to the Coronavirus, Ron Smith Care Centre is not having a large Christmas function this year, although a festive lunch will be served on Christmas Day – so John’s fear looked set to become a reality.

Determined to let him continue with his merry tradition, John’s daughter Sharon, Tarentaal village manager Tammy Neilson and Rand Aid social worker Ulricka Beukman stepped in and on November 18, John was transformed into Santa and we went through the care centre in his wheelchair – with bell in hand – handing out chocolates and bringing joy to fellow residents.

Matron Avril Maltman of Ron Smith Care Centre with Santa (care centre resident John Harvey).

Matron Avril Maltman of Ron Smith Care Centre with Santa (care centre resident John Harvey).

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Last trip to China

 Residents and staff from River Lodge 3 were the last group to enjoy the Armchair Travel Series, travelling to China.

You can see from the following photos and videos that they took much pleasure in the morning’s activities and had lots of fun learning something new! 

Some of the travellers who enjoyed the trip to China. Back: Prudence Mokoena, Beth Roberts, Dave Scott and Hilda Mabaso. Front: Marie Diesel, Martha Mabuyela and Heather Zipp.

Debbie Christen (right) congratulates Dave Scott, who won the Chopstick Challenge. He completed the challenge in a record time of about 5 seconds! Prudence Mokoena (left) was his main cheerleader!

Enjoy these videos taken on the day:

Cedar Park residents off to China

Cedar Park residents and staff ‘travelled’ to China on October 30, when they participated in the Armchair Travel programme that all the other residential wings have enjoyed.

Below are photos of the travel group enjoying Tai Chi movements, spring rolls and the Chopstick Challenge.

Waiting for the journey to begin.

Karen Mitchell thanked us for a wonderful morning and the delicious spring rolls. She told us that she used to go out for Chinese food all the time, and was very good with chopsticks! Pictured with her is Johanna Pholo. 

Joy Smith (left) & Doreen Woodward (right) thoroughly enjoyed themselves on the trip to China and made lots of comments about the Chinese clothes that were on display. Doreen was aware that the particular collar on a traditional Chinese dress is called a Mandarin collar. Joy could hardly wait for the Jasmine tea which was promised with the spring rolls. She enjoyed the tea very much.

Clem Lilley took first place in the Chopstick Challenge! Joan Gelman thinks that’s awesome!

Doreen Woodward (centre) gives the chopsticks a go! At one stage, she asked how you cut meat with chopsticks. Debbie Christen replied that that was a very good question and explained that with Chinese cooking, the cook prepares the meat in the kitchen and cuts it into bite-sized pieces, which is how it is served to the diners. So no table knives are required!

Clem Lilley watches very carefully as Gerty Chanza practises with her chopsticks, in preparation for the Chopstick Challenge!

Cleo Makhanya, Ursula Northern, Karen Mitchell and Johanna Pholo get to grips with their chopsticks!

Leon Shuker accepts some sweet chili sauce for his spring rolls!

Joan Gelman enjoys the music with Debbie Christen.

‘Papa Joe’ (Mike Papageorgiou) move to the Chinese music.

Sister Eunice Lakay helps Ursula Northern with the Tai Chi movements.

Joy Smith, Doreen Woodward and  Annastasia Thula enjoy the beautiful Chinese music, which Doreen said was ‘soothing’. 

The tour group from Cedar Park which visited China.

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Pendants for Eden Associates

 Rand Aid employees who earned Eden Associate status after attending a three-day intensive workshop last year were recently awarded specially designed pendants imprinted with the Eden Alternative logo.  

Due to various circumstances, the receipt of the pendants from Cape Town was delayed, but the new Associates finally received their Eden pendants from Matron Avril Maltman on October 14 and October 16, at two  special teas given in their honour. She congratulated the new Associates and reminded them to put the Eden philosophy and principles into practice every day.

The Eden Alternative is a philosophy that seeks to change the culture of today’s old age homes, long-term care facilities and other residential care settings from sterile medical institutions to human habitats – environments where residents want to live and carers enjoy working. Rand Aid is an Eden Alternative pioneer in Africa.

 

Left to right: Martha Mabuyela, Florah Tshonisa, Tinyiko Nkwinika, Juliet Malatji, Debbie Beech, Selina Shiviri, Thili Sibiya, Brenda Ratema and Ulricka Beukman after receiving their Eden Associate pendants.

Eden Associates Noma Malevu, Alice Molepo, Catherine Mphahlele, Lehlo Manaka, Grace Tshikalange and Merium Netshifhefhe. Other new Eden Associates missing from the photos are: Johannes Mojela, Knowledge Mabunda, Sue Prior, Shaka Mahlangu, Rosemary Khoza, Forget Khoza and Lucy Kgafela.