Come and sit awhile

A lovely new hospitality, relaxation and activity area for residents has been set up in the outdoor section between Woodlands and Cedar Park. Bright new patio furniture enhances the area under the Cedar Park awning and under the two lapas further along, making this a more functional and inviting location for hosting outdoor teas, picnics, social gatherings and other activities.

Residents and staff enjoy the lovely new outdoor area.

Care centre branches out with baobab tree on its Eden Alternative journey

A 1.5 metre wire baobab tree stands tall in the grounds of Ron Smith Care Centre.

The Rand Aid Association-run care centre has been undergoing considerable rejuvenation as it moves towards full Eden Alternative accreditation, which will see it acknowledged as part of a group of international organisations that are adopting a new, personalised approach to people care. Known as the ‘tree of life’, the baobab tree was incorporating into the logo of Eden Alternative South Africa when the international philosophy was introduced to South Africa in 2011.

The tree is also called the ‘upside down’ tree in the African culture because when bare of leaves, the spreading branches of the baobab look like roots sticking up into the air, as if it had been planted upside-down. If one aligns this thinking with the Eden Principles, it symbolises that person-directed care stems from and is driven by the needs of the residents as opposed to the usual hierarchy with the leaders at the top dictating downwards. (Principle 8 - Decision making is closer to the resident.)

According to www.krugerpark.co.za, a baobab tree can create its own ecosystem, supporting the life of countless creatures, from the largest of mammals to the thousands of tiny creatures scurrying in and out of its crevices. Birds nest in its branches; baboons devour the fruit; bush babies and fruit bats drink the nectar and pollinate the flowers.

The nurturing associated with this venerable tree is well aligned with Ron Smith’s Eden Alternative journey, demonstrating the 160-bed facility’s growth in recent years in providing a loving, supporting and non-institutional new home for its residents.

The wire baobab will bear the care centre’s Vision and Mission statements to allow residents, their family members and staff members to give their input prior to the formal adopting of these core statements. Thereafter, it will be used as a ‘Wish’ and ‘Gratitude’ tree.

For further information, call 882 4120.

Spur-of-the-moment braai

Enjoying summer’s end … River Lodge One threw a spontaneous braai on Sunday, February 28. Organised by Sr Leanie Bessinger for the residents and staff members, it gave everyone a chance to enjoy an outdoor meal, which made a refreshing change from the dining hall and evoked memories of many a Sunday family braai at home.

Tea, cake and lashings of love

The daughter of resident Lorraine Lowdon sweetened up Valentine’s Day for the residents of River Lodge One. Although Ron Smith Care Centre had a formal Valentine’s event, the fun tea party hosted on the Sunday was thoroughly enjoyed by all, and ensured that residents got the same loving feeling they would have when they still lived in their own homes.

BACK TO NATURE PAPERMAKING WORKSHOP

Do you know how to make paper by hand?  Did you know that one of the ingredients for making paper is…………..elephant dung? 

On the afternoon of Friday, 19th February, there was a buzz of excitement in the OT Activity Centre at Ron Smith Care Centre as 20 Care Centre staff donned their aprons and prepared to learn the art of making paper from scratch.

 Sylvia Birkhead, Senior Occupational Therapist, presented this workshop to care workers, domestic, nursing, OT and management staff, as an Eden Alternative team building activity, designed to link certain Eden principles with the actual art of papermaking.   Sylvia said that the idea was to use the Eden concepts and images of nature, trees, gardens and planting of seeds for growth, to introduce this activity which involves the use of natural materials to create a product totally made from nature.  She made a small card from homemade paper into which the seed of a tree was embedded, for each participant to plant in soil to remind them of the origins of paper, and to give them the opportunity of growing and nurturing their own tree which symbolises the growth they have promoted when nurturing the residents.

The paper-making process began by creating pulp mixtures from recycled/shredded paper, plant fibres such as mealie skins, bulrushes, dandelions, elephant dung (!) and water.  Batches of differently coloured paper were made by adding onion skins, tea leaves, dyes or coloured serviettes to the pulp mixtures. 

The pulp was then added to large tubs of water, into which additional material, plant and other fibres were added, before papermaking frames were dipped in and pulled up.

The water then drained off to leave a layer of pulp on the frames, and it is this pulp which eventually transformed into a sheet of paper!  The layer of pulp was inverted onto a sheet of Vilene fabric and the frame was lifted to reveal a sheet of paper which was then ironed dry and flat. 

What a magical moment it was for each staff person, when a beautiful piece of handmade paper was revealed from the messy mixture of pulp! The natural transformation process from something that is seemingly unattractive and useless into something beautiful and useful is quite amazing to behold and the staff were very proud of the fact that they achieved this with their own hands!

Besides learning a brand new skill, the staff had a lot of fun and enjoyed the spontaneous nature of the activity.  Sylvia says that the objective of the workshop was “to move the staff one step further along on their Eden journey, by reinforcing the Eden concepts of nature, nurturing, and working together on a fun activity that has no limits or rules and which brings people back to nature.” 

 'Eewww….Elephant dung!'

     

Zabeth Zühlsdorff, Rand Aid’s GM: Services and Advance Division (right) who provided the dung!

Look at the fun we had:

Ron Smith Care Centre’s Chinese New Year celebration

The Happy Hour normally held every month at Rand Aid Association-run Ron Smith Care Centre, took on a different flavour this February, as the theme of the gathering was to celebrate Chinese New Year, the year of the Monkey.

Residents from all six wings of the care centre were invited to the Cedar Park wing, which was brightly decorated with Chinese dragons, flower motifs and banners with Chinese calligraphy, proclaiming best wishes for long life and good fortune for the coming year.

Fortune cookies were offered round, and residents curiously broke open their cookies in anticipation of finding news of impending good fortune!  They also had fun trying to work out what their Chinese horoscope sign is, there being 12 animal signs in the Chinese Zodiac.  Funnily enough, there were a lot of ‘monkeys’ in the group, followed by many rats, oxen and snakes.

A few Chinese horoscopes were read out, indicating personality traits, likes, dislikes and likelihood of compatibility with other signs. The residents enjoyed calling out their answers to a quiz on Chinese culture and traditions and then sampled some litchi juice along with a variety of Chinese snacks: spring rolls, dumplings, meatballs, bow ties, sesame rice cakes and candies, guava confectionaries and dried plums.  A few people attempted to use their chopsticks, but then decided their hunger would be satisfied much more quickly using their fingers!

“Some of the residents were able to say ‘Happy New Year’ in Chinese and also ‘thank you’ for the evening. They really enjoyed the experience of sampling the food and culture of a different country, and it was decided that with St Patrick’s Day around the corner, the next cultural experience will be Irish!” says Debbie Christen, Manager: Recreational Programmes at Rand Aid.

Joan Bellew has a giggle, getting to grips with the challenge of eating with chopsticks!

 Gwen Byrne, Anne Brokensha and Peter Barker.

 Denny Hancox in her daughter’s silk and satin Chinese jacket.

LETTER FROM HAPPY RESIDENT

How far we have come – This letter was sent to Zabeth Zühlsdorff, Rand Aid’s GM Services and Advance Division, by a resident, following a social held for residents on February 12:

Dear Zabeth,

I assume, perhaps mistakenly, that Friday evening’s Chinese Party was arranged as part of the Eden Alternative initiative. Whatever the motive, I would like you to know that this big effort made by Sylvia Birkhead, Debbie Christen, and their anonymous helpers to make a pleasant “evening out” is greatly appreciated. I must commend Bianca for the design of the invitation. And, of course, a big thank-you to those who had to clear up afterwards!

Rand Aid has made huge strides in the care of elderly since the days when OT was two hours a week in the hall!

Please pass on my thanks.

Peter Barker

Love is in the air this Valentine's

A lovely Valentine’s Tea took place on the lawns by the duck pond at Ron Smith Care Centre on Friday, February 12.

Gazebos were gaily decorated with pink and red hearts and tables were laid with pretty flowered tablecloths. Each of the tables was set with all the fixings for scones: butter, grated cheese, strawberry jam and, of course, freshly whipped cream! 

The residents of the Rand Aid Association-run care centre so enjoyed dressing their own scones, some had butter and jam, some had butter and cheese, some had jam and cream, and some decided to have the works - butter, cheese, jam and cream!

On hand were plenty of staff and volunteers, all decked out in their red and white Valentine’s attire, to serve the tea and to assist where needed. The residents enjoyed the opportunity to chat and socialise while enjoying the beautiful, sunny morning outdoors with their friends and neighbours. 

“On Valentine’s Day itself, all 150 residents were presented with a box of chocolates, lovingly prepared and packaged by the staff. There was indeed lots of love going around on Valentine’s weekend,” says Debbie Christen, the Manager: Recreational Programmes.

 Valentine’s joy... Joan Gilbert, Colleen Blowe and Rita Harvey.

 Time for friends and fun... Margaret Beattie and Elaine van Heerden.

 A hug from me to you ... Sonia Tshabalala and Recia Jacowich.

 Winifred Ziegler enjoys her scone.

 Joy Smith feels the love. 

Gordon Smith tucks in.

Staff and volunteer enjoy the Valentine's Tea: Khumbalo Mabuli, Portia  Ngobeni, volunteer Lindiwe Isaacs and Shirley Makwarela.