Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre (RSCC) in Lyndhurst has experienced a challenging time over the past few months.
Even though its elderly frail residents have handled the restrictions necessitated
by the coronavirus pandemic with grace, Matron Avril Maltman says that all care
centre staff have found themselves working in stressful times and under extreme
pressure.
Nevertheless, they are totally dedicated to giving wonderful, loving care
to the residents and have worked tirelessly to curb the spread of infections and
to keep everyone’s spirits up.
Local artist Master KG’s Jerusalema has become a global sensation
and videos of people dancing to the hit are spreading positivity far and wide.
When Enrolled Nursing Auxiliary Evelyn Shilubane, who works on the River
Lodge 3 residential wing of the care centre, first found out about the Jerusalema
dance, she thought that RSCC should take up the challenge and promoted the idea
to her colleagues. Charge Professional Nurse Leanie Bessinger then spread the
idea to the staff of the five other wings and dance practices were set up with
Debbie Christen, Recreational Manager, teaching the choreography to various
groups.
Debbie comments: “Staff from all
departments – nursing, housekeeping, kitchen, maintenance, admin and the coffee
shop – were encouraged to join in, making this dance challenge a fun and spirit-filled
team building exercise, which really brought the whole care centre community
together in such a joyous way. In a sense, this was also a chance to relieve
some of the stresses of the lockdown period and to celebrate survival of COVID-19.”
Greg Fine, the husband of Rand Aid’s in-house doctor, Dr Carmella Mielke,
very kindly assisted with video footage using his drone, and Sister Leanie
edited and put together some 59 video clips from staff to create the final
version. She says: “Unity and light relief are much needed in the world right
now and I want to put out the challenge to other care centres to join the
#JerusalemaDanceChallenge.”
When Zabeth Zühlsdorff, Rand Aid General Manager Advance Division, saw
the video, she was blown away and responded: “I have watched it three times already!
Many thanks to everyone who organised,
participated and supported this fantastic initiative. You are an awesome team
and I am privileged to work with each and every one of you.”
Families on the various WhatsApp groups started by
the care centre to enable enhanced communication with the families of
residents, also commented favourably:
Watch the video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X6qgdAhxuU
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