Heritage Day happiness at Ron Smith Care Centre

Over 150  residents and staff of Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre gathered at the centre’s beautiful Woodlands Lapa and Garden area to celebrate Heritage Day on September 26. 

Preparations for the event began weeks in advance with the residents and staff creating special Heritage Day hats and hand-crafted Proteas for table decorations in the OT activity centre, whilst the staff dancers learnt some new international dances to entertain the crowd. 

The day was awash with brilliant colours as staff were dressed in their bright and beautiful traditional attire. The dance programme began with staff representing the Venda, Pedi, Zulu and Tsonga tribes, performing their traditional dances. This was followed by an American Line Dance (Hillbilly Rock), an Israeli Folk Dance (Nigun Atik), a Latin American Cha (Chilly Cha Cha) and an American round dance (Salty Dog Rag). The programme ended with a lone Scottish piper who played Scotland the Brave.

After thoroughly enjoying the entertainment, residents were by now ravenous and more than ready for the braai. ‘Build your own burgers’ were on the menu and the Naked Chefs from Rand Aid’s Inyoni Creek were the braai masters. Delicious, juicy hamburgers were served, which could be embellished with cheese, tomatoes and/or onions. Coleslaw, bean salad and pap & sauce were also on offer and the alfresco meal ended off with everyone’s favourite – Eskimo Pies!

Debbie Christen, Manager: Recreational Programmes commented: “The day was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with the care centre community, the spirit and beauty of Rand Aid’s diverse cultures and to find joy in a selection of music and dances from around the world. The perfectly grilled burgers were also a treat!”

Olimpia D’ Ascenzo and Ziyanda Vellem.

Ron Smith Care Centre’s colourful Heritage Day celebration.

The Vendas.

Johanna Mokwele, Megan Weeks, Nolly Mlandu, and Knowledge Ngobeni.

Jennifer Sigida, Noel Tilney, and Evelyn Shilubane.

 Here come the Pedis!

Sister Leanie Bessinger gets initiated into the Zulu tribe!

The Tsonga Dancers. 

Israeli Folk Dance.

Dancing the Chilly Cha!Cha!

Timothy Lincoln.

Rosina Pretorius.

 Ros Benjamin.

Nomsa Shabangu, Peggy Roberts, Hilda Mabaso.

Here come the Vendas!

A ball of a time had by RSCC nursing teams

On September 10, the nursing staff of the Woodlands and Cedar Park wings of Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre held a team-building event at the Woodlands Lapa and croquet lawn. 

Weeks before, the two teams had a training and practice session with Recreation Manager Debbie Christen, who taught them the game of croquet and also how to have a golf putting competition.

On the day of the event, both teams pitted their game skills, techniques and strategies against each other, determined to come out tops! At the end of the day, the Woodlands group were the first to complete the croquet course and the Cedar Park team won the golf competition – so both teams were very happy and had so much fun building their team spirit and getting a good dose of fresh air and sunshine in the process. 

Both teams had much to celebrate, so drinks and snacks under the lapa rounded off a wonderful day of fun spent with colleagues.

  

The Cedar Park team in red: Lucy Kgafela, Noma Malevu, Penelope Mthembu, and Christina Maluka.

The Woodlands team in blue and white: Busi Nxumalo, China Matsane, Florah Mothogoane, Grace Tshikalonge and Gwen Coutinho.

New OT focuses on people’s strengths rather than their weaknesses

People living with dementia need to have a sense of independence and the right level of stimulation, believes Ron Smith Care Centre’s new occupational therapist, Corlia Schutte.

“I have a passion for working with people living with dementia,” she says. “I have found I have the empathy and compassion needed to care for these special individuals.”

A Pretoria resident, Corlia became part of the Rand Aid Association team on August 5, 2019.

She says she hopes to bring a personal touch to the occupational therapy department and intends being as hands-on as possible. She would also like to grow the therapeutic programme at Riverlodge 3, the care centre’s special dementia wing.

 “Sensory stimulation is very important when it comes to the care of frail elders and I would like to be involved in the training of care workers and volunteers in this regard. It is important in dementia care to ensure that a person is stimulated according to their individual and constantly evolving needs.” 

Corlia admires dementia-care education specialist Teepa Snow’s approach, which recognises the dynamic nature of the human brain and its abilities. “She advocates that we should focus on what a person can do, rather than what they cannot,” says Corlia.

A practising occupational therapist for over 20 years, Corlia studied Occupational Therapy at the University of Pretoria after matriculating at Hoёrskool Randburg in 1991.

“I worked in paediatrics for many years but changed direction when I was appointed as an occupational therapist at Ons Tuis old age home. I then worked at Livewell Villages for two years, also as an OT. My time at these establishments cemented my interest in the care of elders,” she says.

“Corlia will enrich our existing programmes and bring skills and talents to the care centre that will strengthen and benefit all,” says Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s Manager: Recreational Programmes, who arranges wonderful social and enrichment programmes for residents of the care centre.

Corlia Schutte, Ron Smith Care Centre’s new occupational therapist.

Cowgirls and boys cavort at Ron Smith Care Centre

Residents and staff at the Ron Smith Care Centre enjoyed a boot-scootin’ good old time on 27 August at the country and western-themed party hosted by the River Lodge 2 wing of the care centre.

The dining room tables were transformed with red and white checkered overlays and clever decorations from the wild west and farm life. Guests were welcomed with happy hour drinks and snacks, including sausage rolls, biltong and tortilla chips; those with a sweet tooth were satisfied with vanilla cupcakes and chocolates! 

The country music of Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, amongst others, played in the background and created the country and western vibe which everyone so enjoyed.

Ecstatic cheering, whistling and applauding took place when the best-dressed men and women were announced: 

Gisela Meinck from River Lodge 2 won the Best-dressed Lady prize; 

Leon Shuker from Cedar Park won the Best-dressed Gentleman prize; and 

Nellie Motshoene from Lakeside won the Best-dressed Staff prize. 

More clapping, hooting , whistling and cheering took place when the River Lodge 2 Country and Western Line Dancers performed three dances: Salty Dog Rag, Hillbilly Rock and Achy Breaky Heart.

All the cowboys and cowgirls had a great time, judging from the happy smiles and laughter, with many of the residents saying that this was the best Happy Hour function they’ve had. It was also a wonderful way to say goodbye to winter and to joyfully welcome the coming of spring!

 

Violet Mtheroana, James Taylor, Shaka Mahlangu and Myer Fish.

River Lodge 2 hosts of the Country and Western Happy Hour.

Hee-ha! Sarah Richards and Helen Barlow-Jones.

The table decorations that residents and staff made in OT.

Country and Western Line Dancers.

Corlia Schutte – RSCC’s new OT.

Paulina Sepeng & Malcolm Shalekoff.

Alison Bell & Edna van Rensburg. 

 Etienne & Vera Geyser.

 Cleo Makhanya, Dumi Mboweni, Annastasia Thula, Maserame Moilwa, Christine Kincaid-Smith.

 Nomagugu Ncube gives everyone a good ole Country & Western welcome!

Gisela Meinck is ecstatic over winning the best dressed lady prize!

 Shaka Mahlangu congratulates Leon Shuker for winning the Best Dressed Gentleman prize!

 Victor Daniel.

Nellie Motshoene & Molly Matroos.

Lorraine Lowdon rocks the hillbilly look!

Volunteers become Dementia Friends

A group of warm-hearted people have become Dementia Friends, spending time enriching the lives of people living with dementia at Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre.

Some of the regular volunteers at the care centre recently indicated that they would like to learn more about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. In response to that request, Rand Aid social worker Debbie Beech conducted two ‘Dementia Friends’ sessions for about 20 volunteers in August.

Dementia Friends is an initiative that was started in the UK to raise awareness and change the way people think, act and talk about dementia.

There are five key Dementia Friends messages:

1 Dementia is not a natural part of ageing.
2 Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain.
3. Dementia is not just about losing your memory – it can affect thinking, communicating and doing everyday tasks.
4 It is possible to live well with dementia.
5 There’s more to the person than the dementia.

The sessions were warmly received and volunteers came away feeling much more enlightened about the disease. They committed to joining the initiative and becoming a Dementia Friend.

There are plans to offer more Dementia Friends sessions to care workers and residents in the near future.

Volunteers at the Ron Smith Care Centre assist in a number of ways, from helping with the walking, music, games, baking and arts and crafts activities, to visiting lonely residents and brightening their day. Volunteers work with all residents and not just those living with dementia.

Currently, a volunteer to teach computer skills is required. For more information, contact Debbie Christen by email at dchristen@randaid.co.za

Mandela Day Knitathon

Busy hands and caring hearts

Throughout the year, residents of Rand Aid’s Elphin Lodge retirement village knitted up a storm and the result was 76 blankets that were handed over to Meal on Wheels on Mandela Day.

Meals on Wheels representatives joined residents and staff from both Elphin Lodge and Ron Smith Care Centre (RSCC) in the village hall on July 18  and after enjoying a lovely tea of sausage rolls, sandwiches and chocolate eclairs, it was time for the programme to begin.

The first order of business was to hand over the 76 blankets and tinned food to Meals on Wheels, who gratefully received the gift on behalf of the vulnerable poor whom they support.
Then it was onto the main challenge of the day: To knit or crochet a square in 67 minutes, so that they can all be joined together to produce blankets for the next worthy charity that needs them.

The stopwatch was activated at 10H30 and at exactly 11H37, time was called! Knitted rows were tallied and winners were declared in both the knitting and crocheting category. 

The results were as follows:

Knitting:
1^st place:  Barbara Malan – Elphin Lodge.
2^nd place:  Greer James– Elphin Lodge.
3^rd place:  Avril Maltman – RSCC, Matron.

Crocheting:

1^st place: Denise Stewart – RSCC, Volunteer.
2^nd place (tie): Sarah Richards and Ronelle Gray – RSCC.

Val Kirschner (left) and Colin Cormack (middle) from Meals on Wheels receive the blankets from Elphin resident Krys Geyser (right).

Felicite Horn and Shirley Boy.

 Third place knitting: Avril Maltman (middle) with Salina Mtshali (left) and Bianca Richards (right).

Second place knitting: Greer James with Bianca Richards.

First place knitting: Barbara Malan with Bianca Richards.

Crocheting: Tied for 2^nd place - Ronelle Gray with Salina Mtshali.

Crocheting: Tied for 2^nd place - Sarah Richards with Bianca Richards.

First place crocheting: Denise Stewart with Salina Mtshali.

Sue Dickinson.

Jenny Sella (right) with daughter Eve.

Marion Tollitt.

Marlene Gordon and June Branthwaite.

Marisa Sabato and Ronelle Gray.

Rand Aid team embark on journey of growth

 Rand Aid staff embarked on a two-day journey of growth in June when they participated in a training workshop on how to implement and manage change in the complex world of caring for elders. 

Staff representing management, nursing services, social work, recreation and occupational therapy, housekeeping and catering were presented with a six-step growth model and learnt how to work through a logical process that applies to personal, team, and organisational transformation. The workshop participants were also taught how to gather the necessary tools and resources and how to develop an action plan, to sustain the culture change journey.

The training workshop was presented by Magda Pienaar and Yolande Brand from Eden Alternative South Africa and was meaningful, thought-provoking, enlightening and motivating.

 “Various staff have commented that this workshop promoted team building, communication and feelings of connectedness and that they feel inspired to bring this growth model into play,” says Zabeth Zühlsdorff, Rand Aid’s GM: Services and Advance Division.

She says it was good to spend time with colleagues and to share perceived strengths and weaknesses. The workshop also reinforced the idea that all the care partners are doing a wonderful but sometimes stressful job, and that it can only be done effectively if they work as a team. 

“They have begun to look at residents, staff and each other with new eyes and have started to think about how to identify and use each individual’s strengths. It was good to realise that there is no pressure to change overnight, but that baby steps can be taken in the ongoing process of change and growth.

“Finally, everyone agreed that one of the best things about this workshop is that the knowledge gained cannot only be used at work, but also in one’s own personal life with family and friends,” says Zabeth.

The members of the Rand Aid team who participated in the Growth Training Workshop.