Easter bunny tracked down at RSCC

Fun, happiness and delight was the result of week-long Easter fun at Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre (RSCC).

Debbie Christen, RSCC’s manager of recreational programmes, says the care centre’s Easter programme was chock-a-block with activities for the residents to enjoy, including painting, baking, word searches, quizzes and arts and crafts.

“All of the activities, that also form part of the care centre’s regular recreational programme, were implemented with an Easter theme, much to residents’ delight,” she adds.

Residents had the opportunity to make Easter bunnies from knitted squares, decorate cupcakes with speckled eggs in a nest of icing, paint or colour in symbols or images of Easter, and take part in a quiz.

The much-anticipated Easter egg hunt took place April 6, which was a joyous event for all of the chocoholics, says Debbie.

Staff members from each of RSCC’s six residential wings hid Easter eggs and picture of a happy Easter bunny for residents to find. They were also on hand to help residents move around, and provided helpful hints to find the eggs.

While the Easter bunny pictures were initially illusive, the residents who tracked them down were rewarded with a large chocolate bunny. “When we asked the winners if they were going to share their spoils, they answered with a resounding ‘No’.”

Residents also enjoyed the lucky draw on Good Friday. Those who drew a ‘Happy Easter’ card won half a chocolate egg filled with a delicious assortment of chocolates and truffles.

On Easter Sunday, residents enjoyed hot cross buns for tea, followed by a lovely roast chicken meal for lunch. They could also enjoy church and shul services over Easter and Passover.

 

RSCC Newsletter - May 2023

 To read the full newsletter, click here:

Happy 100th birthday Ellen!

 

Ron Smith Care Centre (RSCC) resident Ellen Quinn celebrated her 100^th birthday on 17 April.

She celebrated this milestone at a birthday party, held at RSCC’s Woodlands lapa on 15 April, with her son, Richard, from East London, and her grandson, Simon, from Cape Town. Her daughter-in-laws, other family members and friends also joined the party.

According to Richard, Ellen was born in Rhodesia and moved to Johannesburg when she was a child. She had one sister.

She married Edmund Quinn during the Second World War. Edmund was in the air force and served in North Africa and Europe, while Ellen worked in Johannesburg as a hairdresser.

After the war, the couple started their family. They lived in Edenvale and then Bedfordview, before moving to Potchefstroom. They had three sons and were happily married until Edmund’s death over 30 years ago, when Ellen moved to Rand Aid’s Elphin Lodge retirement village.

She lived at Elphin Lodge for 28 years, before moving to Ron Smith Care Centre in 2020.

“My brothers and I were educated in Potchefstroom, where my mother was the chairperson of the PTA of Potch Boys High and famous for attending and catering for sporting events. She was an accomplished gardener, who won prizes, and loved embroidery and knitting,” says Richard.

Ellen has two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Domestic workers in the spotlight at RSCC

 

Ron Smith Care Centre’s domestic workers of the month accolade was awarded to Iris Radebe and Lerato Masoga in March.

“I chose River Lodge 3 domestic workers Iris and Lerato as the best housekeeping team for March because they have both made such a big difference since starting here in February,” says charge professional nurse Leanie Bessinger.

“You can see the difference. The wing always smells fresh and whenever I do rounds they are always hard at work cleaning. I never have to ask them to clean specific areas, they just do it automatically. They are also very kind to the residents and always have a smile or kind words to share with them,” she adds.

Lerato Masoga and Iris Radebe with Leanie Bessinger.

RSCC jets off to Germany

 

German food, culture and dancing were an absolute hit at Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre’s latest armchair travel series.

RSCC residents thoroughly enjoyed their armchair travel adventure on 17 and 24 March, when the care centre went all out to ‘transport’ them to the beautiful, scenic country that’s renowned for Albert Einstein, Boris Becker, Beethoven, BMW, eisbein and bratwurst.

Lively oompah band music, usually played during Germany’s Oktoberfest, greeted residents in the recreation centre, which was decorated in black, yellow and red, the colours of the German flag.

They enjoyed their kinderpunsch welcome drink – a traditional non-alcoholic German-mulled hot drink made with hibiscus tea, fruit juices, honey, cinnamon, cloves and star anise, and garnished with an orange slice – and got to taste various German sausages, including bratwurst, knockwurst and chicken.

Residents also enjoyed watching a video about the most scenic places to visit in Bavaria, learnt how to speak a few German words, and took part in a quiz which tested their knowledge of people, places and things that Germany is renowned for, including food, drinks, cars, sports stars, science, movies and politics.

“Everyone had great fun and were proud when they were able to recall the answer to certain questions,” says Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s manager of recreational programmes. “Oh man, I know this one,” was heard often!

Residents also took part in a lucky draw. The resident who drew the card with the picture of a woman wearing the traditional dirndl outfit and the resident who drew the card with the picture of a man wearing lederhosen each won a prize.

The event was rounded off with tea, coffee and delicious apfelstrudel with ice cream, followed by dancing the polka and waltz, much to residents’ delight.

“Many of our residents have visited Germany, so they really enjoyed reminiscing about this beautiful and culturally rich country,” says Debbie.

RSCC resident Tilly Bryant agrees. “Thank you so much for a lovely morning. This event brought back happy memories for me, especially about my time in Munich,” she said.